Zygomatic Dental Implants by Dr Nikhil Oberai
If you have been told you have no bone left for implants, this is the page I want you to read. Zygomatic implants exist specifically for patients in your situation, and for many of them, it is the treatment that finally makes everything possible.
You have been told no. I want to explore whether that is the whole story.
There is a particular kind of defeat that comes with being turned away for implants due to bone loss. You went to the consultation with hope. You came out without it. You were told that the bone in your upper jaw has receded too far, that implants are not possible, and that a denture is your only realistic option.
For some patients, that conversation happened years ago and they have been living with a denture since. For others it happened recently and they are still processing it. What almost none of them were told is that an alternative exists. One that does not require the bone that is missing. One that bypasses the upper jaw entirely.
That is what zygomatic implants are.
- Why patients come to see me
Does any of the points below sound familiar?
You have been told your upper jaw bone loss is too severe for implants
This is the most specific and most devastating thing a patient can hear in a dental consultation. It feels final. It is almost never presented as the starting point for a different conversation. But in many cases, it should be.
You have been wearing an upper denture for years and it has never been right
The movement, the restricted diet, the way it changes how you speak and how you feel in social situations. You have adapted to it because you were told there was nothing else. There may be something else.
You have been told bone grafting is the only route and you want to avoid it
Some patients with upper jaw bone loss are told a bone graft is the prerequisite for implants. That is true for some techniques. Zygomatic implants were developed specifically to remove the need for grafting in exactly these cases.
You have had a full arch reconstruction that has failed due to bone issues
Sometimes the failure of previous implant treatment is related directly to insufficient upper jaw bone. The implants were placed anyway and they did not integrate, or they have since failed. This does not mean the situation is beyond resolution. It means a different approach is needed.
The good news is, zygomatic implants exist specifically for patients who have been told no.
Zygomatic implants work by anchoring into the cheekbone, which is called the zygoma, rather than into the upper jawbone. The cheekbone is dense, stable, and almost always available regardless of how much upper jaw bone loss has occurred. That is the insight behind the technique. You do not need the bone that is missing. You use the bone that is there.
The result is a complete set of fixed upper teeth, placed without a bone graft and without the long preparatory period that grafting requires. For patients who have spent years being told that fixed upper implants are not possible for them, it is a significant moment when I sit down with their CT scan and show them that it is.
I perform zygomatic implant procedures at both my Northwich and Wilmslow practices. It is advanced surgical work and it is not something every implant dentist offers. If you have been turned away elsewhere due to upper jaw bone loss, please do not assume that means it cannot be done at all.
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What zygomatic implants actually are, in plain English
A standard dental implant is placed vertically into the upper jawbone. When there is not enough bone in that location, the implant has no stable foundation and cannot be used. That is the point at which most patients are told their options are limited to bone grafting followed by conventional implants, or a denture.
A zygomatic implant is significantly longer than a standard implant and is placed at an angle that allows it to anchor into the cheekbone rather than the jawbone. The cheekbone sits above and behind the upper jaw and is typically dense and well-preserved even in patients with extensive upper jaw bone loss. By using it as the anchoring point, the procedure bypasses the area of bone loss entirely.
In many cases, two zygomatic implants are used in the upper jaw, sometimes alongside two or four conventional implants placed at the front of the jaw where bone is often still present. The fixed bridge of upper teeth is then attached across all of them. The result is a complete, permanent upper smile, supported securely without the need for grafting.
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation available. For patients who qualify, it can be completed as a Smile-in-a-Day procedure, with a fixed temporary bridge placed on the day of surgery.
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- Your Dental implant Journey
Here is exactly what the zygomatic implant process involves
This is advanced surgical work and I want you to understand every stage before you decide anything.
Free 3D Smile Assessment
Your consultation is completely free and includes a full cone beam CT scan. For zygomatic cases this scan is particularly detailed, covering both the cheekbone structure and the remaining upper jaw bone, because the precise anatomy of your zygoma determines exactly how the implants should be placed. You leave with a written treatment plan and a complete cost breakdown. No pressure to proceed.
Free · Approximately 45 to 60 minutesFull Surgical Planning
Before any treatment date is booked, I review your CT scan in detail and build a precise surgical plan for your case. Zygomatic implants require more detailed pre-operative planning than conventional implants. Every angle, every depth, every intersection with the surrounding anatomy is planned in advance. I walk you through every stage of the procedure before you agree to anything.
Detailed surgical planning · Specific to your cheekbone anatomyImplant Placement
On the day of your procedure, the zygomatic implants are placed under local anaesthetic, with sedation available throughout. The implants are inserted at a carefully planned angle, passing through the maxillary sinus and anchoring into the cheekbone. Where conventional implants are being used alongside at the front of the jaw, these are placed in the same appointment. The procedure typically takes three to four hours.
Day surgery · 3 to 4 hours · Local anaesthetic · Sedation availableTemporary Fixed Bridge Placed Same Day
Where clinically appropriate, a fixed temporary bridge is attached to the implants on the day of surgery. You leave with a full set of upper teeth in place. For patients who have been wearing a denture for years, this moment is significant.
Same day · Fixed · Functional · CompleteHealing and Integration
Over the following three to four months, the zygomatic implants integrate fully with the cheekbone. You carry on with your normal life throughout. I monitor your healing closely at regular appointments and my team is available at any point.
3 to 4 months · Regular check-ins throughoutYour Permanent Bridge is Fitted
Once healing is confirmed, your permanent fixed bridge is designed, crafted to suit your face and smile, and fitted. This is the final appointment in the treatment journey and the one where everything becomes permanent.
Final appointment · Approximately 2 hours- Why Invest in an Implant
Here is what my patients tell me after treatment
The patients who come to me for zygomatic implants have usually been waiting longer than most. The change they describe afterwards reflects that.
They finally have fixed teeth after years of being told it was not possible
This is the outcome that stands apart from every other treatment I offer. Patients who had accepted a denture as permanent reality, who had stopped believing a fixed solution existed for them, discovering that it does. The relief is profound.
No bone graft and no extended preparation period
Zygomatic implants remove the need for the bone grafting procedure that other techniques require in cases of severe bone loss. That means no separate grafting surgery, no extended healing period waiting for the graft to mature, and a significantly faster route to fixed teeth.
They eat properly again
A well-fitted upper denture restricts what you can eat. A fixed upper implant bridge does not. Patients describe the return to normal eating as one of the most practically significant changes in their daily life.
Their upper face looks like their face again
When the upper jawbone recedes significantly, the structural support that teeth and their roots provide is lost. Zygomatic implants restore the loading and stimulation of the upper facial structure in a way a denture cannot. Patients notice the difference. So do the people around them.
Their confidence in social situations returns fully
The anxiety that comes with an upper denture, the fear of it moving when eating or speaking, goes entirely with fixed implants. Patients describe being able to be fully present in situations that had been a source of background anxiety for years.
- Transparent Pricing
How much do zygomatic dental implants cost in the UK?
Here is a direct answer.
Zygomatic dental implants at my practices in Northwich and Wilmslow start from £20,000. This is for the upper arch, using zygomatic implants to address severe bone loss. The price reflects the complexity of the procedure, the level of pre-operative planning required, and the surgical expertise involved. It is advanced treatment and the cost reflects that honestly.
Your exact written cost is confirmed at the free 3D Smile Assessment, where I can see precisely what your anatomy requires. In some cases a combination of zygomatic and conventional implants is the right approach, which can affect the final figure. Nothing is confirmed until I have seen your scan.
ZYGOMATIC PACKAGE From £20,000
Upper arch Severe bone loss No bone graft required Fixed bridge included
What is included:
- Free 3D CT scan and full surgical consultation
- Zygomatic implant placement, upper arch
- Any conventional implants at the front of the jaw where used alongside
- Temporary fixed bridge placed same day where clinically appropriate
- Custom permanent fixed bridge after healing
- All follow-up appointments throughout the treatment period
0% finance through Tabeo
Tabeo offer 12 months’ interest-free finance on zygomatic implant treatment. For repayment periods beyond 12 months, an APR applies. Full details and representative examples are discussed at your consultation before you commit to anything.
- Talk to Our Team
Not sure if you're suitable? Give us a call. There's no obligation.
We understand that choosing a dental implant is a significant decision. Our team is here to answer any questions, with no pressure, no sales tactics, and no obligation to proceed.
- START WITH A CONSULTATION
What Your Free 3D Smile Assessment Includes:
Full 3D CT Scan
A full cone beam CT scan of your jaw — included at no charge. This gives Dr Nikhil a precise picture of your bone density, nerve positions, and implant suitability.
Written Treatment Plan
You will leave with a full written treatment plan and a complete cost breakdown. Nothing is left vague or estimated.
An Honest Conversation
Dr Nikhil will take the time to understand your situation, answer every question, and give you an honest clinical opinion — with no pressure to proceed.
Finance Options Explained
If 0% finance is right for you, we will walk you through the options in detail so you can make a fully informed decision.
Response Within 1 Working Day
We respond to every enquiry within one working day. Often same day.
- Making the right choice
What is the difference between zygomatic implants, bone grafting, and a denture for severe bone loss?
It is the question patients ask most often before booking. Here is the honest comparison.
| Zygomatic Implants | Bone Graft then Implants | Upper Denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suitable for severe bone loss | Yes, designed for it | Depends on graft success | Yes |
| Bone graft required | No | Yes | No |
| Fixed permanently | Yes, never removed | Yes, after full healing | No, removable |
| Time to fixed teeth | Months, often same day | 12 to 18 months | Immediate |
| Preserves facial structure | Yes | Yes | No |
| Eat without restrictions | Yes | Yes, after healing | Significant limits |
| Suitable for upper jaw | Yes | Depends on bone | Yes |
- MEET YOUR CLINICIAN
I'm Dr Nikhil Oberai MSC & Dental Implants are all I do
Zygomatic implants are not a procedure offered by most implant dentists. The surgical demands are significantly higher than conventional implant placement. The pre-operative planning is more detailed. The anatomy involved is more complex. And the cases that warrant it are, almost by definition, the ones that have already been through other options without success.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Dental Implantology from the University of Manchester and have been performing advanced implant procedures for over a decade. I teach these techniques at the same institution as an Honorary Clinical Teaching Fellow. I also regularly take on cases that other practices have turned away, precisely because I have the training and the clinical experience to assess them properly and find a viable path forward where others have not.
If you have been told that fixed upper implants are simply not possible for you, I would ask you to come and find out for certain before you accept that.
“For every problem, there is a solution. It might be challenging, but it is almost always possible.”
Credentials:
- BDS, University of Manchester (2008)
- MSc Dental Implantology, University of Manchester (2014)
- Honorary Clinical Teaching Fellow — University of Manchester
- Key Opinion Leader — Osstem UK
- External Examiner, BAIRD Implant Course
- Award Winning dentistry
- GDC No. 150126
- Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions my patients ask me about zygomatic implants
Here are the questions our zygomatic implants patients ask most often — answered honestly and in plain language.
Zygomatic implants are longer implants that anchor into the cheekbone rather than the upper jawbone. They are used in cases where upper jaw bone loss is too severe for conventional implants. By using the cheekbone as the anchoring point, the procedure bypasses the area of bone loss entirely, removing the need for bone grafting in most cases.
Quite possibly. Zygomatic implants were developed specifically for patients with severe upper jaw bone loss. The free 3D CT scan gives a precise picture of your cheekbone anatomy and confirms whether the technique is appropriate for your specific case. I would strongly encourage coming in for an assessment rather than accepting a previous conclusion that fixed implants are not possible.
Zygomatic implants at my practices in Northwich and Wilmslow start from £20,000 for the upper arch. This reflects the complexity of the procedure and the surgical expertise required. Your exact written cost is confirmed at the free 3D Smile Assessment. 0% finance through Tabeo is available.
No. This is one of the primary advantages of the technique. Zygomatic implants anchor into the cheekbone, which bypasses the area of the jaw where bone loss has occurred. No bone graft is needed before placement, which also removes the extended healing period that grafting requires.
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and sedation is available throughout. It takes approximately three to four hours. There is typically more swelling and tenderness in the days following zygomatic implant surgery than with a conventional implant, because the procedure is more extensive. This is managed with detailed aftercare guidance and pain relief from my team. Most patients describe the recovery as more manageable than they anticipated.
In many cases yes. Where clinically appropriate, a fixed temporary bridge is placed on the day of surgery. The permanent bridge follows after the healing period. Whether same-day placement is suitable for your case is determined at your free assessment.
These are variations within the family of advanced implant techniques used where conventional implants cannot be placed. Zygomatic implants anchor into the cheekbone. Pterygoid implants anchor into the pterygoid bone at the back of the jaw. In some cases both are used together, alongside conventional implants at the front, to provide a complete upper arch restoration without any bone grafting. I will identify the most appropriate combination for your anatomy at your assessment.
Call Croft Dental in Wilmslow on 01625 523 524, or Brunner Court in Northwich on 01606 440 394, or complete the enquiry form above. My team will be in touch within one working day, usually the same day.