Dental Implants: What Is A Sinus Lift?

Sinus Lift: Close up of a man's smile
Caption: Your sinus cavities might play a role when considering upper dental implants.

Without enough bone support, a dental implant would likely fail and potentially cause other problems. A sinus lift is a procedure to increase the amount of bone on a person’s upper jaw to make dental implants possible. It is a surgical procedure to correct bone loss and move the sinus up to make room for a bone graft.

After six months of allowing the bone graft to heal and strengthen, the periodontist can then place the dental implant.

How Does a Sinus Lift Work?

The source for bone material can either come from a donor or from the patient’s own body, often from the hip. If the bone source comes from the patient’s body, the patient must have this done in a hospital.

The dentist begins by making an incision in the gums to expose the bone. This allows them to cut a hole in the bone before pushing the sinuses up to where they need to be.

At this point, the bone graft is placed and the gums can close using stitches. During the procedure, you will be under anesthesia to ensure you feel comfortable during the procedure.

Ice and over-the-counter medication can reduce swelling and help with any pain. As long as you’re careful post-surgery, you can feel back to normal within a couple of weeks.

Is a Sinus Lift Necessary for Dental Implants?

A sinus lift is not necessary for everyone that needs upper dental implants. Dr. Guzman will only recommend it if there is not enough bone to work with.

By adding bone to the jaw, dental implants are possible and more secure. If you’ve had teeth removed in the past, this might be the reason why your bone is weaker now. Tooth loss can make bone density decrease and make sinus lifts necessary for implants to be safely inserted.

Schedule An Appointment Today

Dental Partners of Boston has a team of talented doctors very experienced with dental implants and sinus lifts. To learn more about whether this is something right for you, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Members of our team will discuss a potential sinus lift with you and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.

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