You've Been Told There's Not Enough Bone. Here's What Most Dentists Won't Tell You.
If you've been turned away from dental implants because of severe bone loss in your upper jaw, you are not out of options. You've simply been talking to the wrong dentist. The standard answer (years of bone grafting, sinus lifts, and waiting) isn't the only path forward, and for many patients it isn't even the best one.
Zygomatic implants bypass missing jawbone entirely by anchoring into your cheekbone, a dense, naturally robust structure that has the strength to support a fixed full-arch restoration on day one. At Arvada Dental Center & Implants, Dr. Gregory Bennett is one of the few dentists in Colorado trained in this advanced technique, and he uses it to give patients the fixed teeth they were told they couldn't have.
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What Are Zygomatic Implants?
A zygomatic implant is a longer, specially-designed titanium post that anchors into your zygoma, the dense bone of your cheek. Unlike traditional implants, which require sufficient jawbone to integrate, zygomatic implants skip the jawbone entirely and use the cheekbone as their foundation. This bone is naturally robust and rarely affected by the resorption that follows tooth loss, which is exactly why it works as a backup foundation when the jaw has deteriorated.
The technique was developed over 30 years ago for cancer patients who had lost large sections of their upper jaw, and it has since matured into one of the most powerful solutions in modern implant dentistry. Today, zygomatic implants are the standard of care for patients with severe maxillary bone loss who want a permanent, fixed restoration without spending years on grafting and waiting.
Most cases use 2 to 4 zygomatic implants, often combined with 2 standard implants in the front of the jaw where bone is typically preserved. The result is a stable, full-arch foundation that supports a fixed bridge the same day surgery is performed.
A Solution for Patients Who've Been Turned Away
Zygomatic implants exist specifically for the cases that traditional implants cannot solve. You're likely a candidate if any of this describes you:
Severe Upper Jaw Bone Loss | You've been told there is "not enough bone" for traditional implants in your upper arch, often after years of denture wear or long-term tooth loss.
Previously Failed Implants | You've had implants placed before that didn't integrate or eventually failed, leaving behind even less bone than you started with.
Failed or Refused Bone Grafting | You've tried bone grafting and the graft didn't take, or you simply don't want to commit to 6 to 18 months of additional surgery and healing.
Long-Term Denture Wearer | Years of wearing a removable upper denture has accelerated the bone loss in your maxilla to a point where standard implants aren't viable.
Sinus or Anatomical Limitations | Your sinus floor is too low for traditional implants, and a sinus lift either isn't feasible or isn't something you want to pursue.
You Want Same-Day Fixed Teeth | You're not willing to spend years in a removable temporary while you wait for grafts to heal. You want a permanent solution and you want it now.
For these patients, zygomatic implants aren't a workaround. They're often the only path to a fixed, life-changing result.
Why Zygomatic Implants Change the Game
Here's what makes zygomatic implants such a powerful option for the right patient:
No Bone Grafting Required | The procedure bypasses the missing jawbone entirely, eliminating the need for grafting, sinus lifts, and the 6 to 18 months of healing those procedures demand.
Same-Day Fixed Teeth | A fixed temporary bridge is attached to your zygomatic implants the same day they're placed. You leave the office with a complete smile, not a removable flipper.
One Surgery Instead of Many | Traditional bone-deficient cases often require 2 to 4 separate surgeries spread across a year or more. Zygomatic implants compress that into a single, coordinated procedure.
Dramatically Shorter Treatment Timeline | What used to take 12 to 24 months from start to finish can now happen in 4 to 6 months total, including the final zirconia restoration.
Strong, Stable, Long-Term Foundation | The zygoma is one of the densest bones in the face. Once an implant integrates, it provides a remarkably durable anchor for decades of normal function.
A Real Path Forward When Nothing Else Worked | For patients who've been quoted years of grafting (or told they have no options at all), zygomatic implants are often the difference between a permanent smile and a lifetime of dentures.
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Zygomatic Implants vs. Traditional Implants
Both solutions replace missing teeth with implant-supported restorations, but they serve very different patient situations. Here's how they compare.
Traditional Dental Implants
Anchors into the upper or lower jawbone
Requires adequate bone density and volume
Often needs bone grafting if bone is insufficient
Frequently requires sinus lift for upper arch placement
Total treatment timeline of 12 to 18 months when grafting is involved
Best suited for patients with healthy jawbone structure
Performed by most general implant dentists
Zygomatic Implants
Anchors into the cheekbone (zygoma) instead of the jaw
Works regardless of how much jawbone has been lost
No bone grafting required, ever
No sinus lift needed
Total treatment timeline of 4 to 6 months from surgery to final bridge
Designed specifically for severe upper jaw bone loss
Requires a specialist with advanced surgical training
The right choice depends entirely on your anatomy. At your consultation, Dr. Bennett reviews your 3D CBCT scan and tells you honestly which option is right for your case, not the other way around.
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What to Expect: Your Zygomatic Implant Journey
From your first consultation to the day you walk out with fixed teeth, every step is planned with the precision this advanced procedure requires.
You start with a thorough exam and a cone beam CT scan that maps your maxilla, sinuses, zygoma, and surrounding anatomy in complete 3D detail. For zygomatic cases, this scan is essential. It tells Dr. Bennett exactly where each implant must enter, the trajectory through the cheekbone, and how to protect every critical structure along the way.
Dr. Bennett digitally plans every implant before any surgery happens. Each zygomatic implant is virtually placed in software, the angles and depths are validated, and a fully-guided surgical template is 3D-printed for the procedure. This is where the precision is built in.
Under IV sedation in our Arvada office (no hospital required), Dr. Bennett places your zygomatic implants using the pre-planned surgical guide. Typical cases use 2 to 4 zygomatic implants, often combined with 2 standard implants in the anterior jaw. The procedure usually takes 3 to 5 hours, depending on complexity.
Before you leave the office, a fixed temporary bridge is secured to your new implants. You don't go home without teeth, you don't wear a removable flipper, and you don't go through a healing phase looking different than you want to look.
After 3 to 4 months of healing, your final zirconia bridge is designed in our in-house lab and placed. Custom-shaded, custom-fit, and built to last. This is the smile you keep.
Healing After Zygomatic Implant Surgery
Zygomatic implant surgery is more involved than traditional implant placement, but recovery is more straightforward than most patients expect. Some swelling and bruising of the cheek area is normal for the first 5 to 7 days and is fully managed with the prescription support we provide. Soft foods for the first 2 to 3 weeks, then a steady return to normal eating as your tissues heal.
Throughout the next 3 to 4 months, your implants quietly integrate with the cheekbone and any standard implants integrate with your jaw. We see you for routine checkups during this window to monitor healing. Once your final zirconia bridge is placed, maintenance is simple: brush, water-floss under the bridge, and visit us every six months for professional cleaning and implant health checks.
Affordable Pathways to a Solution That Actually Works
Zygomatic implants are a specialized procedure, and pricing depends on case complexity, the number of implants required, and the type of final restoration. At consultation, we walk you through a fully itemized breakdown so you know exactly what's included and what isn't. IV sedation is always included. When compared honestly against the cost of multiple bone grafts, sinus lifts, and years of treatment, zygomatic implants are often more affordable than the long path most patients are initially quoted.
We partner with CareCredit, Cherry Payment Plans, Sunbit Finance, PatientFi, Proceed Finance, and LendingClub to offer flexible monthly payment options, and most patients receive a financing decision the same day they apply. We also verify your insurance benefits before treatment begins to capture every dollar your plan will pay.
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Why Patients Travel to Arvada for Zygomatic Implants
Very few dentists in the country are trained to perform zygomatic implant surgery, and fewer still perform it routinely. Dr. Gregory Bennett has personally placed over 5,000 dental implants, has dedicated advanced training in zygomatic, pterygoid, and trans-sinus techniques, and is recognized as a Top Dentist by 5280 Magazine. He is Moderate IV Sedation Certified with annual ACLS renewal, which means we perform this complex surgery safely under our own roof without sending you to a separate surgical center or hospital.
What makes our zygomatic outcomes consistent is the fully integrated workflow at our Arvada office. Cone beam CT imaging, fully-guided surgical templates 3D-printed in-house, IV sedation administered by a certified team, and a complete in-house dental lab that designs and mills your final zirconia bridge under the same roof. Every variable stays in Dr. Bennett's hands from start to finish, and your investment is protected by our 5-Year Assurance and Zirconia Warranty programs.
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Zygomatic Implants FAQs
Have questions about zygomatic implants in Arvada, Colorado? Here are the answers patients ask us most. Schedule a consultation for a personalized evaluation.
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