LAUSR

Zygomatic implants can be used for dental rehabilitation in atrophic maxillae. This allows for maxillary grafts to be avoided while also permitting immediate functional use. Initially, the implants had a palatal emergence. The surgical technique has undergone continuous development and the implants are now sometimes extra-maxillary in order to better match with the prosthetic space. The main risk is vestibular exposure of the implant as a gingival recession caused by mucositis or peri-implantitis. When the first patients exhibited this problem, the authors sought a solution in order to prevent this complication from occurring. The authors here describe a technique for covering the implants with the buccal fat pad. The dissection and the suture of the fat pad around the implants provide a thick gingiva and mucosa on the vestibular side. The authors have used this technique for the past four years. Twenty-five patients had coverage of the implants. Nineteen had Hybrid Zygoma and six had Quad Zygoma All-on-Four implants. Not a single patient had a gingival recession upon follow-up examination. This technique allows a considerable amount of thick gingiva around the implants to be retained. It also prevents long-term exposure of the implants on the vestibular side.