Told You Don’t Have Enough Bone? You May Still Have Options.
If another provider said you can’t get dental implants because of bone loss, that conversation may not be the final word. Zygomatic and pterygoid dental implants reach past the areas where bone has shrunk away.
- Walk out the same day with a full set of teeth, even with severe upper-jaw bone loss
- Many qualifying patients avoid bone grafting entirely
- You sleep through the surgery under sedation, comfortable and pain-free
- Cared for by a board-certified oral surgeon who also holds a medical degree. His hospital surgical training is what makes complex bone anatomy routine for him.
Dr. Anderson sees this happen regularly.
A patient is told “no” by another provider and leaves convinced nothing is left to try. Then they come in for a second opinion and find there is still a path forward.
Zygomatic and pterygoid dental implants are a well-established surgical approach for patients who cannot get traditional dental implants because of severe bone loss in the upper jaw. Very few surgeons have the training and experience to perform these procedures well.
Why bone loss can rule out standard dental implants
When teeth go missing, the jawbone underneath begins to shrink. There is nothing stimulating it anymore, so the body gradually resorbs it. Dentures can accelerate this process. After years of bone loss, standard dental implants no longer have enough structure to anchor into.
How zygomatic and pterygoid dental implants work around bone loss
Zygomatic dental implants anchor into the cheekbone, which stays dense even when the upper jaw loses volume
Pterygoid dental implants anchor into the dense bone behind and above the upper jaw, which is largely unaffected by front-jaw bone loss
Both provide a stable foundation for a fixed full arch of teeth
Zygomatic vs. Pterygoid Dental Implants At A Glance
Feature
Zygomatic dental implants
Pterygoid dental implants
- Where it anchors
- The cheekbone (zygomatic bone)
- Dense bone behind the upper jaw (pterygoid plates)
- Why that spot works?
- Cheekbone does not shrink with upper-jaw bone loss
- This area is largely unaffected by front-jaw bone loss
- Best for
- Severe bone loss across the upper jaw
- Bone loss toward the back of the upper jaw
- Avoids bone grafting
- Yes, for the right patient
- Yes, for the right patient
- Same-day fixed teeth
- Yes, for many qualifying patients
- Yes, for many qualifying patients
For the right patient, these dental implants eliminate the need for multiple rounds of bone grafting. That means no waiting 9 to 12 months for graft healing before treatment even begins.
Zygomatic dental implants
Pterygoid Implants
You may be a candidate if
- You have been told you have too much bone loss for standard dental implants
- You have worn a full upper denture for many years
- You were told you need a sinus lift or extensive bone grafting first
- A previous bone graft failed or did not provide enough structure
- You have been told you are “not a candidate” for All-on-X elsewhere
Not everyone with bone loss needs zygomatic or pterygoid dental implants. Many patients with bone loss do well with standard All-on-X and bone grafting. The right path depends on what your scan shows. We will tell you honestly which approach fits your situation at your consultation.
This is not a procedure every oral surgeon performs.
These are not procedures a general dentist can perform, and many oral surgeons do not place zygomatic or pterygoid dental implants regularly. The procedure is highly technique-sensitive and requires specialized training beyond a standard oral surgery fellowship.
Dr. Anderson places zygomatic and pterygoid dental implants regularly at Peachtree Oral & Facial Surgery, and is one of the most experienced surgeons in these specialized implants in Georgia, an advanced skill set few surgeons in the region offer.
Dr. Anderson is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with a medical degree (DMD, MD). His training includes a general surgery internship at Shock Trauma (the flagship trauma center for the state of Maryland) and an attending role at Grady Memorial Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in the Southeast. The anatomy involved in zygomatic and pterygoid cases is exactly the kind of three-dimensional surgical territory where that background matters most.
You sleep through the entire procedure.
Every full-arch case at Peachtree Oral & Facial Surgery is performed under sedation and general anesthesia.
- General anesthesia administered
- Dr. Anderson operates
- More than 40,000 anesthesia and sedation cases of combined experience. That’s not a number you see at a general dental office.
- These dental implants work in proximity to the maxillary sinus, making provider experience critical
Sabina Ferguson came to Dr. Anderson after years of struggling with dentures that would not hold.
“I had bone loss completely and there was no way that I can get implants, and every denture that I had would not hold. This was actually the end of the road for me completely.” — Sabina Ferguson
“For the first time after three years I was able to eat salad again and corn on the cob.”
“He restored my life, Dr. Anderson and his team. They don’t know how grateful I am.” — Sabina Ferguson
Detailed planning before a Single dental implant is placed.
CBCT Scan
3D Surgical Planning
Same-Day Surgery
Step 01
Consultation and 3D Scan.
We take a 3D scan as part of your visit. This gives us the full picture of your bone structure, sinus anatomy, and where dental implants can be safely anchored.
Step 02
Surgical Planning
Using your 3D imaging data, we map exact placement angles before surgery day. Nothing is guessed in the operating room.
Step 03
Surgery Under Sedation
Your surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Many patients describe going to sleep and waking up with new teeth.
Step 04
Same-Day Fixed Teeth
For many qualifying patients, you leave the same day with a full set of fixed teeth fixed to your new dental implants.
Step 05
Perfecting Your Smile
As your dental implants integrate with the bone, we fine-tune your new teeth until they look and feel right. Dr. Anderson follows your case personally, for years.
Paul E. Anderson, DMD, MD
Board-Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dr. Anderson is both an oral surgeon and a medical doctor with hospital surgical training. He has placed zygomatic and pterygoid dental implants for more than two decades and follows every case personally.
“If I have a case, either a simple one or a complex case, I will refer to Paul, because I know I will get a quality, no-problem result.”
Dr. Tommy Turkiewicz
General Dentist, Peachtree City, GA
What to expect on cost
Zygomatic and pterygoid cases are more involved than standard All-on-X. The total investment reflects advanced planning, specialized technique, and general anesthesia.
- Starting at $299/month for qualifying patients
- Financing through CareCredit, LendingClub and Sunbit
- Every number is laid out clearly before you decide anything
Questions We Hear Often About Graftless Full Arch Dental Implants.
Has anyone really been turned down elsewhere and still gotten dental implants here?
Are these dental implants as safe as regular dental implants?
Does this procedure hurt more than a standard full-arch case?
I was told I need years of grafting before dental implants are even possible. Is that true?
What if my bone loss is in the lower jaw, not the upper?
Let’s Take Another Look at What’s Possible.
If you have been carrying a “no” from another provider, it is worth finding out whether that answer still holds. Many patients who come to us with a history of severe bone loss discover they have more options than they were led to believe.
At your consultation, you receive:
- A 3D scan as part of your visit, so we can see your actual bone structure
- A complete treatment plan with honest options, including whether you need zygomatic dental implants, pterygoid dental implants, or something simpler
- Monthly payment options in writing before you decide anything
- A direct conversation about what surgery and recovery would look like for you
REACH US DIRECTLY
Current Patients / All Other Needs:
770-302-0101
Implant Consult:
470-600-9343
Serving patients with severe bone loss from Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Tyrone, Sharpsburg, Brooks, and Griffin, GA.
