One solution for patients with lack of bone volume in the upper posterior segments is bi-lateral sinus grafting.

This grafting will produce enough bone volume for the placement of implants, however the implants are not ready to restore for nine to twelve months.

The placement of Zygoma dental implants bypasses the need to undergo bi-lateral sinus grafting and, because they provide excellent fixation, they can be loaded with a fixed bridge immediately following surgery. Zygoma implants offer patients an alternative to lateral sinus grafting with drastically reduced waiting times.

In a “first of its kind” procedure in the South East, Oral surgeon Guy Barwell placed two zygoma dental implants alongside five standard implants, which were immediately loaded by The Implant Centre resident Specialist Prosthodontist, Jonathan Murphy. The patient had been referred to the centre with failing bridges and crowns in his maxilla. Following his consultation he decided to undergo an upper clearance and a denture was fitted. After an initial healing period, the implants were placed and immediately restored with the patient under sedation. The patient returned home that morning with a fixed bridge. In three months time this will be restored with a definitive titanium bridge… a time saving of nine months.