Clinical outcome of 103 consecutive zygomatic implants: a 6-48 months follow-up study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively, after a period of 6-48 months follow-up of prosthetic loading, the survival rate of 103 zygomatic implants inserted in 55 totally edentulous severely resorbed upper jaws. Fifty-five consecutive patients, 41 females and 14 males, with severe maxillary bone resorption were rehabilitated by means of a fixed prosthesis supported by either 1 or 2 zygomatic implants, and 2-6 maxillary implants. This retrospective study calculated the success and survival rates at both the prosthetic and implant levels. Out of 55 prostheses, 52 were screwed on top of the implants, while 3 were modified due to loss of standard additional implants and transformed in semimovable prosthesis. Although osseointegration in the zygomatic region is difficult to evaluate, no zygomatic implant was considered fibrously encapsulated and they are still in function. This study confirms that zygoma bone can offer a predictable anchorage and support function for a fixed prosthesis in severely resorbed maxillae.