Sinus Lifts
What is a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift, sometimes called a sinus augmentation, involves adding bone to the area of your jaw near the premolars and molars. The bone is grafted in the area between your teeth and your upper maxillary sinuses. The purpose of a sinus lift is to restore bone in areas where it has been lost, which can be important when placing implants. Bone loss in this area is common, often affecting patients with periodontal disease.
Why would you need a Sinus Lift?
Sinus lifts are done when there isn’t enough bone between the maxillary sinuses and your jaw. For implant patients, not having enough bone structure in this area may pose a problem during surgery. The goal of the procedure is to enhance the structure of the underlying bone so that implant placement is more successful and has enough bone to fuse with over time. While a sinus lift may sound complicated, the procedure is done easily, comfortably and quickly in our office.
What makes you a good candidate for a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift is ideal for patients with maxillary bone loss. This may occur if periodontal disease is present and has infected the bone or if teeth have been missing for a long period of time. When a tooth is extracted or falls out, the bone in that area reabsorbs into the body, causing an area of permanent bone loss. The sinus lift works to replace this missing bone so that overall structure and integrity is restored.
What happens during the procedure for a Sinus Lift?
During the procedure for a sinus lift, the gum tissue at the back of the mouth is cut to expose the underlying bone. Bone grafting material is then placed between the maxillary jaw and the sinuses to build up this area. Once the bone grafting material has been put into place, the gums are sutured and you’ll be given vitally important aftercare instructions to ensure successful recovery. We are here to help answer any questions you may have regarding this procedure before, during and after having it done.
If you think you may need a sinus lift or want to know more about this procedure, call our office so that our helpful representatives can further assist you.