Immediate loading of zygomatic implants is the process of immediately placing the crown after the implant. In other words, this means that there is no other stage surgery where a healing period follows and the implants are placed at a later date. This has its advantages as well as disadvantages. The main advantage of immediate loading is that it saves time and results in increases comfort by reducing the healing period from three weeks to one week.
Conditions for immediate loading
Immediate loading works best for patients who are younger and who have healthy bone and soft tissue. It is also ideal for patients who have less empty space for the implant and patients who need to travel in a short period of time. People who are healthy and young are the best candidates for immediate loading. People who need immediate loading are often in a time crunch to get their implants because of work or travel. The best candidates have less empty space in the maxilla and healthy bone and soft tissue.
Benefits of immediate loading zygomatic implants
There is less postoperative discomfort.
Patients can eat better and travel soon after the surgery.
Immediate loading can be done for patients who need to travel or who have less bone and soft tissue in their maxilla.
The success rate of the bony portion of the implant is high, so the metal portion doesn’t get compromised.
Immediate loading reduces the healing period from three weeks to one week.
Immediate loading can be done with both an endosseous and an exosseous approach with bone grafting.
Patients can get their new teeth for less money because there is no second surgery with the implant.
Cons of immediate loading for zygomatic implants
Although immediate loading has its benefits, it also comes with downsides. Some of them are:
The rate of failure of the zygomatic implant is higher, so the dentist might have to redo the surgery.
The soft tissue healing is slower, so the gums need to be monitored closely.
The infection rate is higher because the gums are slower to heal.
The zygomatic bone graft has a higher rate of failure as well.
The risk of an intra-oral hematoma is higher because the gums are slower to heal.
Conclusion
The zygomatic implants procedure is the process of immediately placing the implant after the second stage surgery. In other words, this means that there is no third stage surgery where a healing period follows and the implants are placed at a later date. There are benefits and downsides to this procedure. These depend on the condition and health of the patient. The best candidates for this procedure are young and healthy people who have less empty space in the maxilla and healthy bone and soft tissue.
