For patients with severe upper jaw bone loss, the standard advice has long been discouraging: "You don't have enough bone for implants. You need bone grafting first." Bone grafting in the upper jaw — often involving sinus lifts, ridge augmentation, or block grafts — adds 6 to 12 months of healing time before implants can even be placed, plus $3,000 to $10,000 in additional cost per arch.
Zygomatic implants bypass this entirely by anchoring into a different bone altogether.
What zygomatic implants are
A zygomatic implant is a long titanium implant (30 to 52.5mm, compared to 8 to 16mm for conventional implants) that passes through the maxillary bone and anchors into the zygomatic bone — the cheekbone. The zygomatic bone is one of the densest bones in the skull. It does not resorb the way the alveolar ridge (the jawbone that holds teeth) does, which makes it an ideal anchor point for patients whose jaw bone is too thin for conventional implants.
The technique was originally developed in the 1980s by Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark (the father of modern implantology) for patients who had lost maxillary bone to tumor resection or trauma. It has since been adopted for patients with bone loss from long-term denture wear, periodontal disease, or natural resorption.
How the procedure works
A typical zygomatic All-on-4 case uses two conventional implants in the front of the upper jaw (where bone is usually still adequate) and two zygomatic implants in the posterior, anchored into the cheekbones. Some cases use four zygomatic implants (quad-zygoma) when anterior bone is also insufficient. The prosthesis attaches to all four implants just as it would in a standard All-on-4, and immediate provisional teeth are placed the same day.
Surgery takes 2 to 4 hours under sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure is more complex than standard All-on-4 and requires a surgeon with specific zygomatic training — typically an oral and maxillofacial surgeon rather than a general implantologist.
Who is a candidate
Zygomatic implants are specifically for upper jaw (maxilla) cases with severe bone loss. The lower jaw (mandible) almost always has enough bone for standard implants because the mandibular bone is denser and resorbs more slowly. If your consultation reveals adequate upper jaw bone for standard All-on-4, there is no advantage to zygomatic implants — standard is preferred because the surgery is simpler.
The practical advantage
The biggest benefit of zygomatic implants is time. A patient who would otherwise need bone grafting (6 to 12 months of healing) followed by implant placement (another 3 to 6 months of healing) can get zygomatic implants and walk out with teeth the same day — a single surgical visit instead of 9 to 18 months of staged procedures.
Cost
| Standard All-on-4 | Zygomatic All-on-4 | |
|---|---|---|
| US (per arch) | $20,000–$30,000 | $25,000–$40,000 |
| Colombia (per arch) | $6,500–$11,000 | $10,000–$17,000 |
Compare to the alternative: standard All-on-4 + bone grafting + sinus lift would cost the grafting ($3,000–$10,000 US), add 6–12 months of healing, and still cost the standard All-on-4 price on top. Zygomatic implants often cost less total and finish faster.
For an overview of all full-arch approaches, see the complete guide.
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Start a Free Consultation →Frequently asked questions
Are zygomatic implants safe?
Yes. The procedure has been performed since the 1990s with published success rates above 95 percent. Zygomatic implants are longer than conventional implants (30 to 52.5mm vs 8 to 16mm) and anchor into the dense bone of the zygomatic arch (cheekbone), which does not resorb the way the maxillary ridge does.
Do zygomatic implants cost more?
Yes, typically $3,000 to $6,000 more per arch than standard All-on-4 because of longer implants, more complex surgery, and fewer surgeons trained in the technique.
Can zygomatic implants be done in Colombia?
Yes. Several oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Medellín and Bogotá are trained in zygomatic implant placement. Confirm zygomatic-specific training and case volume when evaluating a surgeon.