Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants in Turkey: when there is no upper jaw bone left
What is a zygomatic implant?
A zygomatic implant is a longer implant anchored in the cheekbone instead of the upper jawbone. It is used when there is not enough upper jaw bone left to hold standard implants securely, even with a bone graft. It is a last-resort option for severe upper jaw bone loss, not a faster or easier alternative to standard implants.
How this differs from a standard implant
A standard implant is placed into the upper or lower jawbone at the site of the missing tooth. Where the upper jaw has lost too much bone — usually after years of missing back teeth, long-term denture wear, or the sinus expanding into the space bone used to occupy — there may not be enough bone left for a standard implant, or even for one placed after grafting. A zygomatic implant works around that: it is longer, and instead of stopping in the jawbone it extends up into the cheekbone, a denser bone that is not affected by the same resorption.
Once placed, it carries a fixed prosthesis the same way a standard implant does. What changes is the anchor point and the surgery required to get there, not the end result you are shown at the exam.
A last resort, not a shortcut
We are not going to present this as a faster route to a full arch, because it is not one. For most patients missing teeth in the upper jaw, a standard implant, an All-on-4 full-arch plan, or a bone graft is the right, less invasive answer, and that is what we will propose. A zygomatic implant is considered once a CT scan shows those options are genuinely not realistic for your case — not offered as an upgrade or a way to skip a graft you would otherwise be a good candidate for.
Who this may be considered for
- Severe, long-term bone loss in the upper jaw — often from years of missing back teeth or long-term denture wear — confirmed on a CT scan.
- Not enough bone for standard implants or an All-on-4 plan, even once grafting is considered.
- Grafting is not advisable, or would not leave enough usable bone to place standard implants afterwards.
- Grafting is possible but the extended timeline is not workable for the patient, and a written plan shows a zygomatic-anchored option is the more realistic route to a fixed result.
Who zygomatic implants are not the right treatment for
- Bone loss in the lower jaw. This is an upper-jaw treatment only — the cheekbone it anchors into does not exist below. Lower-jaw cases are planned with standard implants or a full-arch plan instead.
- Patients with enough bone for a standard implant or All-on-4. If a less invasive option can do the job, that is the plan we will propose — a zygomatic implant is not offered as a preference.
- Active sinus infection or untreated gum disease. Given how close this surgery works to the sinus, both are resolved first, which can mean treatment at home before you travel.
- General health not fit for a longer surgery. This procedure takes more time and is typically carried out under general anaesthesia rather than local, so medical history is reviewed more closely than for a standard implant.
Missing most or all of the teeth in one jaw but not sure which category your case falls into? Read how full-mouth reconstruction is planned, or send your CT scan and we will tell you plainly which option — standard implants, All-on-4, a graft, or a zygomatic-anchored plan — actually fits.
What the surgery involves
This is oral and maxillofacial surgery, not routine restorative dentistry — our team includes a dedicated oral and maxillofacial surgeon; see the team's qualifications on our dentists page. The implant is placed under general anaesthesia in most cases, given the length of the procedure and how close the surgical site runs to the sinus and cheekbone. Because the anchor point is denser bone than the resorbed jaw it replaces, a fixed prosthesis can often be attached sooner than the months-long wait a standard implant needs to integrate — but exactly how your case is staged, and how many visits it needs, is set out in your written plan after the CT scan, not assumed from a general figure on this page.
Risks worth knowing before you decide
Because the implant is placed close to, or through, the sinus cavity, sinus-related complications — including sinusitis — are a recognised risk of this procedure, more so than with a standard implant. It is a bigger surgery than placing a standard implant, and we are not going to suggest otherwise — no responsible clinic would call this risk-free. That is part of why it is reserved for cases where the less invasive options genuinely are not available to you.
From The Clinic
What implant placement looks like
This clip shows the placement of a standard dental implant. A zygomatic implant follows the same basic principle — a titanium implant anchored in bone to carry a fixed prosthesis — but it is anchored in the cheekbone through a longer, more involved procedure than what is shown here.
What people ask about zygomatic implants
Is a zygomatic implant the same as a standard dental implant?
No. A standard implant is anchored in the upper or lower jawbone. A zygomatic implant is longer and is anchored in the cheekbone (zygoma) instead, because there is not enough jawbone left to hold a standard implant securely — even with a bone graft. It carries a fixed prosthesis the same way a standard implant does, but the surgery to place it is longer and more involved.
Can zygomatic implants be used in the lower jaw?
No. The cheekbone this implant anchors into only exists above the upper jaw, so this is an upper-jaw treatment only. Severe bone loss in the lower jaw is addressed with standard implants or a full-arch plan such as All-on-4, depending on what the CT scan shows.
What are the risks, compared to a standard implant?
Because the implant passes close to, or through, the sinus cavity, sinus-related complications are a recognised risk that matters more here than with a standard implant. It is also a longer surgery, typically carried out under general anaesthesia rather than local. This is one of the reasons it is offered only when standard implants and grafting are not realistic options, not as a faster alternative to them.
Will I need a bone graft as well?
Often not — avoiding an extended graft-and-heal timeline in cases where grafting would not be advisable, or would take too long to be practical, is one of the main reasons a zygomatic implant is considered in the first place. Whether your case needs grafting alongside it, or instead of it, is decided from your CT scan.
How do I find out if I need a zygomatic implant rather than a standard full-arch plan?
Send your CT scan or panoramic X-ray. If a standard implant, All-on-4, or a bone graft can do the job, that is what we will plan — zygomatic implants are considered only once those options have genuinely been ruled out, not offered as a default.
Send your CT scan before you decide anything
We will tell you whether a standard implant, All-on-4, a bone graft, or a zygomatic-anchored plan actually fits your case — and what that involves — in writing, before you book a flight. Zygomatic cases are priced individually after that scan, not from a published rate.