Application of zygoma implants in a patient with a large bone defect in the anterior part of the maxilla

This paper describes the clinical course of a patient who underwent zygoma implant therapy. An 81-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of an unstable upper complete denture. His severely absorbed maxilla had a large bone defect in the anterior region. At first, we performed autogenous iliac bone grafting for conventional dental implants, but the results were unfavorable. The patient desired restoration of masticatory function and selected zygoma implant therapy. We placed four implants, 40 or 45mm in length, from the molar region to the zygomatic bone through the lateral wall of the maxilla.He obtained good masticatory and speech functions after placement of an implant-based overdenture. Neither peri-implantitis nor sinusitis occurred for more than 3 years.These results suggested that zygoma implant therapy could be a salvage procedure for patients with an unfavorable outcome of bone augmentation.