Sinus Lifts & Augmentation

Sinus Lifting & Augmentation

Sinus lifts have become more common as an increasing number of people choose dental implants to replace missing teeth.

A sinus lift – also called sinus augmentation – creates room in your upper jaw for a bone graft ahead of dental implant placement. This is typically necessary if you’ve lost a lot of bone or your sinuses are too close together. The surgical procedure entails raising membrane to accommodate the new bone.

Your sinuses are hollow channels behind your cheek, above your upper teeth. Some tooth roots extend up into these spaces. When these teeth are missing, there may sometimes only be a thin wall of bone left separating the mouth from the sinuses. 

This bone may not provide a solid base for a dental implant. Sinus augmentation bone grafts fix this problem, and significantly increase the chance of implant success.

Insufficient Bone and/or Poor Bone Quality

Many people opt for dental implants because they hold several important advantages over other tooth replacement methods such as traditional dentures and bridges.

Implants look, feel and work just like natural teeth and give you the best chance of maintaining your smile for life because they fuse with bone to become a permanent part of your jaw – an artificial tooth root.

However, insufficient quantity and quality of bone to stabilise a dental implant poses a problem, particularly at the back of the upper jaw, which is in close proximity to the sinus floor. A sinus lift addresses this issue by elevating the sinus floor to enable a bone graft prior to surgical insertion of implants.

Without the support of bone, implants would become loose or fall out completely. Furthermore, the sinus membranes run parallel to the upper jaw, and if the bone is too thin an implant procedure could damage these membranes.

There are several reasons you may need a sinus lift in preparation for a dental implant, including:

• The anatomy of your skull causes the back of the upper jaw to contain less bone than the lower jaw.
• Bone may have been destroyed by gum disease (periodontitis).
• Bone may have been absorbed back into the body if teeth have been missing for some time.
• Medical conditions including cancer.
• Your maxillary sinuses are too close to the upper jaw for implants to be inserted.

What To Avoid After A Sinus Lift?

After sinus lift surgery, you need to take measures to safeguard against the graft material moving and loosening the stitches.

You shouldn’t brush or floss the area for the first week after a sinus lift, and it’s important to be careful about what you eat for a few days:

• Choose soft foods and chew on the opposite side.
• Avoid hard or crunchy foods and hot foods.

It’s also important to try to avoid blowing your nose or sneezing forcefully for two to three weeks. A nasal spray, decongestant or other medication can help prevent this.

Avoid strenuous activity for at least a week.

Is A Sinus Lift A Good Solution For Me?

As well as the structure of your jaw, other factors will determine whether you’re suitable for a sinus lift.

You need to be in good general health. If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition that could hinder healing, sinus augmentation may not be advisable.

Your dentist will assess your medical history and your jaw stability before deciding whether a sinus lift is right for you.

Are There Any Risks With Sinus Lifts?

Sinus augmentation is a safe and effective procedure that is performed regularly across the world.

As with any surgical procedure, there’s a risk ofinfection after a sinus lift, although this rarely happens.

Another risk is that a sinus membrane could become torn or punctured during the procedure. If this happens, your dental surgeon will stitch or patch the area. The sinus lift can often continue as planned but sometimes the membrane has to be given time to heal.

In rare cases, the existing bone may not integrate with the grafted material, necessitating a further sinus lift procedure.