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ABSTRACT
Purpose: Patients with moderate to severe atrophy challenge the surgeon to discover alternative ways
to use existing bone or resort to augmenting the patient with autogenous or alloplastic bone materials.
The objective of the following study was to review the published literature to evaluate treatment
success with zygomatic implants in patients with atrophic posterior maxilla.
Study Selection: Medline/PubMed searches were conducted using the terms atrophic maxilla,
zygomatic implant, zygomatic bone, grafts, maxillary sinus, as well as combinations of these and
related terms. The few articles judged to be relevant were reviewed.
Results: Based on the current literature review, zygomatic implants show excellent survival rates (>90%)
and a low incidence of complications.
Conclusion: With proper case selection, correct indication and knowledge of the surgical technique, the
use of zygomatic implants associated with standard implants offers advantages in the rehabilitation
of severely resorbed maxillae, especially in areas with inadequate bone quality and volume, without
needing an additional bone grafting surgery, wherefore shortening or avoiding hospital stay and
reducing surgical morbidity.
KEY WORDS: Atrophic maxilla, grafts, maxillary sinus, zygomatic bone, zygomatic implant
The original procedure, defined by Branemark in The use of multiple zygomatic implants (i.e., two to three
1998, consisted of the insertion of a 35-55 mm-long in each side) was suggested by Bothur et al.[15] In a recent
implant anchored in the zygomatic bone following study, Duarte et al. used four zygomatic implants and
an intra-sinusal trajectory.[12] Since this description, no premaxillary conventional implants in the prosthetic
many authors have varied the technique slightly. rehabilitation of 12 patients with edentulous and severely
Stella and Wagner described a variant of the technique resorbed maxillas. A fixed bridge of a gold framework
(Sinus Slot Technique) in which the implant is positioned and acrylic teeth was fabricated and delivered shortly
through the sinus via a narrow slot, following the contour after implant surgery. The patients were evaluated after
of the malar bone and introducing the implant in the 6 and 30 months when the bridges were removed for
zygomatic process. In this way, the need for fenestration individual testing of implant stability. One zygomatic
of the maxillary sinus is avoided and the implant is implant was found to be loose at the 6-month follow-up
caused to emerge over the alveolar crest at first molar and another one was found to be loose at the 30-month
level, with a more vertical angulation [Figure 3].[13] check-up. Thus, the overall survival rate was 95.8% after
Peñarrocha et al. 12 published in 2007 a series of 21 cases 30 months of follow-up. No severe complications relating
with the “Slot technique” with a 100% survival rate, to the sinus or the soft-tissues were reported.[16]
but the Schneiderian membrane was perforated in all
cases, even though the incidence of sinus pathology was COMPLICATIONS
low (two cases).[14]
The reported complications associated with zygomatic
implants include postoperative sinusitis, oroantral fistula
formation, periorbital and subconjunctival hematoma
or edema, lip lacerations, pain, facial edema, temporary
paresthesia, epistaxis, gingival inflammation and orbital
penetration/injury [Table 1]. Post-operative concerns
regarding difficulty with speech articulation and hygiene
caused by the palatal emergence of the zygomatic
implant and its effect on the prosthesis suprastructure
have been reported.
CONCLUSION
Figure 3: Right - trans-zygomatic implantation following an
intrasinusal path. Left - the extrasinus technique. Note the
implant emergence above the alveolar crest at first molar level, The zygomatic implant is an alternative procedure to
with a more vertical angulation bone augmentation, maxillary sinus lift and to bone
grafts in patients with posterior atrophic maxillae. Fixture Clinical Procedures. 1st ed. Goteborg, Sweden: Nobel
The zygomatic implant technique should be regarded Biocare AB; 1998. p. 1.
as a major surgical procedure and proper training is 13. Stella JP, Warner MR. Sinus slot technique for simplification
and improved orientation of zygomaticus dental implants:
of course needed. However, in comparison with bone
A technical note. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2000;15:889-93.
grafting procedures, the technique is less invasive and 14. Peñarrocha M, García B, Martí E, Boronat A. Rehabilitation
complicated and has a lower risk of morbidity due to the of severely atrophic maxillae with fixed implant-supported
fact that harvesting of bone graft is usually not needed. prostheses using zygomatic implants placed using the sinus slot
Based on the current literature review, zygomatic technique: Clinical report on a series of 21 patients. Int J Oral
implants show excellent survival rates (>90%) and a low Maxillofac Implants 2007;22:645-50.
incidence of complications, so this should be considered 15. Bothur S, Jonsson G, Sandahl L. Modified technique using multiple
zygomatic implants in reconstruction of the atrophic maxilla:
a valid and safe treatment option when dealing with
A technical note. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2003;18:902-4.
patients with advanced maxillary atrophy. 16. Duarte LR, Filho HN, Francischone CE, Peredo LG, Brånemark PI.
The establishment of a protocol for the total rehabilitation of
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How to cite this article: Prithviraj DR, Vashisht R, Bhalla HK. From
atrophy using customized drill guides. Preliminary results from maxilla to zygoma: A review on zygomatic implants. J Dent Implant
a prospective clinical follow-up study. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2014;4:44-7.
2003;32:7-14.
Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None.
12. Branemark PI. Surgery and fixture installation. Zygomaticus