Ever since I lost most of my teeth in a car accident, it’s been difficult to eat. I have to rely on soft foods and chew in small bites. The only way I can eat soft foods like steak or hamburger is if they’re already ground up into small pieces. Unfortunately, my jaw isn’t strong enough for regular chewing and this has led to some serious health problems.
The doctors say there are solutions for people like me who want stronger jaws and better mouths, but none of them sound very appealing: jaw implants, bone grafts from other parts of my body…I don’t even know where they would get the bone! But then one day when I was surfing the net looking for answers about what could be done about my situation—and trying not to throw up at all those plastic surgery sites—I found out about something called zygomatic implants. This procedure might just save my life!
Definition of Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants are also called zygomatic arches. They are used to replace lost portions of the upper, which can lead to an asymmetric facial appearance.
The zygomatic bone is the cheekbone that separates your eye sockets from your nose and mouth. It’s one of the bones that makes up your face, along with the maxilla (upper jaw).
Zygomatic Implants Benefits
Zygomatic implants are made of titanium, a metal that is strong, light, and biocompatible. They can be used to replace missing teeth and bone and provide support for dentures. Zygomatic implants can also be used to rebuild the upper jawbone in patients with facial deformities or tumors on their jaws.
The benefits of zygomatic implants include improved chewing ability, speech clarity, appearance (they make your smile look bigger), comfort (you no longer have to worry about your dentures falling out or needing constant adjustments), self-esteem (you look good) and quality of life.
Procedure for Zygomatic Implants
The procedure is performed under intravenous sedation. The surgeon makes an incision on the upper jaw and then places the zygomatic implants into the bone. Afterward, they are fixed in place with screws.
The healing process takes about six months to fully complete; during this time you must avoid chewing hard foods and smoking. You may also be asked to wear your temporary prothesis for several weeks after surgery to protect your jaw from impact with other objects that could cause damage during recovery time.
Post-Op Instructions
Follow your doctor’s instructions
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions regarding what to do during and after your surgery, so make sure you pay attention to what they have to say.
Take pain meds as prescribed by your doctor
This might seem like an obvious one, but it bears repeating: if your doctor prescribes pain medication for post-op care, take it! If there’s no medical reason why you can’t handle some pain (like if there are complications), then obviously don’t use these meds—but otherwise don’t be afraid of them just because they carry risks associated with addiction or abuse. Pain is unpleasant and stressful; using medicine that can help manage that stress is totally worth considering under most circumstances!
Avoid smoking and alcohol for at least one month after surgery.
Smoking has been linked with reduced healing time following rhinoplasty procedures; similarly alcohol consumption has also been shown to negatively affect surgical outcomes due to its acidic nature which decreases blood flow which in turn reduces oxygen uptake into tissues. So basically: don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes before or after having any kind of cosmetic procedure done—and definitely not during those periods either!