Mastering pterygoid and zygomatic implants for complex full-arch cases

This advanced pterygoid and zygomatic remote anchorage course, led by Dr. Alex Nguyen, will take place on October 17-18, 2026 In Dallas, Texas. For so many atrophied maxillary arches, even advanced bone grafting can fall short of highly predictable long-term outcomes. Under these severe atrophic conditions, remote anchorage is often a patient’s best option for restored functionality.

Dr. Alex Nguyen is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon practicing in Phoenix, Arizona, and Austin, Texas. He built the Advanced Remote Anchorage Cadaver Course for experienced surgeons who desire to serve a growing atrophic maxillary adult population.

What this pterygoid and zygomatic implant cadaver course will cover

The curriculum moves through three stages: didactic lectures, model-based lab exercises, and live hands-on cadaver surgery. Dr. Nguyen walks attendees through anatomy, indications, contraindications, and preoperative planning specific to remote anchorage cases.

This cadaver course will also demonstrate a systematic approach to treatment planning for pterygoid, zygomatic, and transnasal placement.

Dr. Nguyen’s approach to full arch surgery is prosthetically driven. Surgeons attending any of his remote anchorage courses can expect surgical exercises that emphasize optimal implant positioning, platform timing, and multi-unit abutment emergence. Positioning restorative colleagues for ideal prosthetic outcomes is paramount.

Attendees will have an opportunity to exercise this philosophy directly during the dry-lab exercises, followed by the cadaver lab. Dr. Cyndi Nguyen, OMS, and Dr. Shaun Young, OMS, will be present to assist in both labs, ensuring that each participant’s learning needs are met.

“I want every surgeon to leave this course feeling more confident taking on a case they may have previously deferred, or to be inspired for the next level of training needed to expand their capabilities. The hands-on session is designed to build both skill and confidence.” – Dr. Alex Nguyen

Another distinguishing feature attendees should expect from a course led by Dr. Nguyen is adequate coverage of complications. Management of complications will be discussed throughout both days. Soft tissue augmentation strategies for long-term success will also be discussed.

Hands-on training using the Pro Zygoma system

Attendees will train directly on the BioHorizons Pro Zygoma surgical kit, the same system Dr. Nguyen uses as his primary zygomatic implant.

Each stage of the Pro Zygoma surgical kit maps to a specific skill attendees can expect to build in this cadaver lab.

“This isn’t a course to figure out if remote anchorage is right for you. It’s for surgeons who already know it is and want to do it well.” – Dr. Alex Nguyen

That real-world familiarity carries into the classroom. Dry-lab and cadaver exercises will give attendees hands-on repetitions with the same instrumentation and connection design before they ever use it on a patient.

This is an advanced all-on-x course. Given the complexity of the curriculum, participants are expected to have extensive full-arch implant experience. Doctors seeking to establish experience in routine full arch implant surgery and immediate prosthetic delivery are encouraged to attend the CT Guided TeethXpress Full Arch Course followed by performing multiple full arch cases before seeking training in pterygoid and zygomatic remote anchorage.

Tuition for this October 17-18 Remote Anchorage course is $6,900. 14 CE credit hours will be provided to attendees completing the course. Experienced implant surgeons licensed and practicing in the United States should register. Seats are limited.

The need for pterygoid and zygomatic remote anchorage training over sinus grafts

In the posterior maxilla, between 45 and 54 percent of molar sites show less than 5mm of bone height. Under these circumstances, conventional implants become less predictable.¹

In cases of severely pneumatized posterior maxillae, sinus lifts are less predictable long-term compared to remote anchorage. Additionally, sinus lifts can add more than six months to the treatment plan. By today’s standards, this is an obvious problem for patients seeking an immediate resolution.

This limited access to bone is the anatomy pterygoid, zygomatic, and transnasal implants exist to solve. In an aging society where patients have experienced edentulism for several years, they increasingly require remote anchorage implant procedures. Nearly one in five American adults aged 75 and older has lost all of their natural teeth.²

Multiple industry forecasts project the pterygoid and zygomatic implant market to grow by 6 to 9 percent annually through the early 2030s.³,⁴,⁵ Experienced all-on-x surgeons who want to treat this population need more than access to the hardware. They need hands-on training in anatomy to best serve their patients.

“Unfortunately, zygomatic implant placement is where a lot of otherwise excellent full-arch surgeons stop short. I created this course to get my colleagues past that point safely and confidently so more people in need can be helped.” – Dr. Alex Nguyen

Dr. Nguyen’s stated goal of the course is to build both clinical confidence and surgical precision, so attendees can treat more advanced cases and expand their patient candidacy. That goal is reflected in the structure, moving from lecture to model to live tissue before anyone leaves Dallas.

Seats for the October 17 to 18, 2026 course in Dallas are limited.

An instructor with the case volume to back it up

Dr. Nguyen earned his dental degree at the University of Southern California and completed a four-year OMFS residency at Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

He has performed more than 1,000 remote anchorage procedures and completed the first transnasal implant placed in Arizona. Both of his practices now function as tertiary-care full-arch centers, where revision cases make up a significant share of the workload.

He also holds hospital privileges at multiple medical centers, including Level 1 trauma centers, and serves as adjunct faculty at his former residency program at Carle Health. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

References

1. Nunes LS, Bornstein MM, Sendi P, Buser D. “Anatomical characteristics and dimensions of edentulous sites in the posterior maxillae of patients referred for implant therapy.” Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2013;33(3):337-345. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23593627/

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report: Selected Findings.” https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/php/2024-oral-health-surveillance-report/selected-findings.html

3. Mordor Intelligence. “Zygomatic & Pterygoid Implants Market Forecasts 2031.” https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/zygomatic-and-pterygoid-implants-market

4. Spherical Insights & Consulting. “Top 25 Companies in Global Zygomatic Pterygoid Implants Market.” https://www.sphericalinsights.com/blogs/top-25-companies-in-global-zygomatic-pterygoid-implants-market-statistics-report-till-2035

5. Market.us. “Zygomatic and Pterygoid Implants Market Size.” https://market.us/report/zygomatic-and-pterygoid-implants-market/

6. Advanced Remote Anchorage Cadaver Course, Dallas TX — TeethXpress Courses

7. Dr. Alexander Nguyen faculty profile — TeethXpress Courses

8. Everyday Oral Surgery Podcast. “Reasons to Consider Pterygoid, Transnasal, and Zygomatic Implants.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnglcPcgr8c

9. Zygomatic Implant Systems: A Complete Guide & Critical Review for Surgeons and Prosthodontics — atrophicjaws.com