Undergoing dental implant surgery is an ideal treatment option when you lose a tooth. For the implants to thrive, they require the sturdy support of the jawbone. To ensure that this happens, your dentist may recommend a sinus lift.
Sinus Lift
Sinuses are hollow grooves that lie behind your cheeks and above the upper jaw. The roots of some of your teeth burrow into these channels. When you lose a tooth, what remains is a wall of bone that may be too thin to hold an implant. Such a situation calls for sinus lift surgery.
A sinus augmentation or lift is a medical procedure that attaches bone matter to the upper jaw. During the operation, the doctor centers around the zone of your molars and premolars. Your oral surgeon lifts your maxillary sinus membrane to create space for bone grafts.
Why Need a Sinus Lift?
Your dentist at Weston Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery may recommend this procedure when the proximity of your sinuses to the jaw is narrow. You may also need it when there is insufficient bone height in your upper jaw. There are several reasons for bone loss. Some include:
Periodontal gum disease
Congenital anomaly
Depreciation of bone after tooth loss
Removal of tumors or cysts in the area due to cancer
Loss of teeth in the upper jaw
Overgrown sinus cavities or an extra thin jawbone
Damage to the jawbone from an accident or challenging tooth extraction.
However, not all people who require dental implants need to undergo this surgery.
The Sinus Augmentation Procedure
Often, the oral surgeon begins with a minute incision around the molar or premolar region. They do this to unmask your jawbone. Next, they will make another cut in the sinus to elevate its tissue linings. The surgeon then fills the gap below with material to graft the bone. They may retrieve the material from sections of your body or opt for bone-like synthetic materials.
After implanting the bone, the surgeon sutures the incision and lets the healing begin. The graft needs to rest for several months to allow it to attach to the jaw. After this period, they can insert and stabilize dental implants onto the newly-formed bone.
There are cases where an individual has enough bone to secure an implant. Here, the surgeon can perform both the sinus lift and dental implant in a single procedure.
What to Expect After Surgery
After the procedure, you may experience minor swelling around the region. Avoid sneezing with an open mouth or blowing your nose. The surgeon recommends this to prevent bone-graft matter from shifting. It can also cause discord between your mouth and sinus.
The dentist will prescribe drugs and saline sprays. These prescriptions help moisten your internal nose lining and prevent inflammation and congestion. You will receive pain medication and an antimicrobial mouth solution to stave off pain and infection.
Risks
One primary risk of this procedure is tearing the sinus membrane during elevation. Fortunately, oral surgeons have a solution to this issue. If it fails, they will stop and let the wound heal. They may attempt the procedure a few months after recovery of the wound.
For more on sinus lifts for dental implants, visit Weston Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at our office in Weston, Florida. Call (954) 507-6441 to book an appointment today.
