Will I Need A Sinus Lift For Dental Implants
A sinus augmentation is usually performed when a patient has insufficient bone in their upper jaw to support a dental implant, as shown by a panoramic dental x-ray. Dental implants fuse with the jaw bone in a natural process called osseointegration, but this relies on there being a certain amount of bone present.
You may need sinus augmentation surgery before getting implants if:
- your jaw bone has previously been damaged, for example from trauma or a difficult extraction
- a cyst or tumour has been removed from the area
- you have suffered bone loss as a result of periodontitis
- your bone has receded because of tooth loss
- you naturally have a large sinus cavity or thin jaw bone.
Not everyone who gets molar or premolar teeth implants will need this surgery. However, it’s a fairly common procedure. If you are nervous about having oral surgery, your dentist may offer you conscious sedation to make you more relaxed during the treatment.
Mini implants might let you avoid the worry and cost of a sinus lift, but they aren’t always a great solution.
How Did I Know That I Needed Sinus Lift
When you visit the dentist for implant, they advise you on the CT scan report of your jaw to check the availability of bone to place the implant. The most common problem encountered in the upper jaw thats insufficient bone in the upper molar region near the maxillary sinus. Resorption of bone is occurring due to severely infected teeth, prolonged gums disease, and longer duration after the teeth removal.
Once the CT-scan shows the least room for implant placement, the procedure is advised by the dentist to gain bone height. With the help of it and bone graft we are able to place implants to restore missing teeth.
When Can You Get Dental Implants After A Sinus Lift Surgery
The American Academy of Periodontology states that a sinus lift patients full recovery can take anywhere between 4 and 12 months. This time frame is crucial for the sinuses to heal and for the new bone to properly integrate with your existing bone, resulting in better support for dental implants. Once the sinuses have fully recovered, a dental implant can be placed, and the treatment can proceed.
Although a sinus lift for dental implants usually necessitates a lengthy recovery period, it is necessary for successful implant placement. This is especially true for patients with large sinus cavities, insufficient upper jawbone height, or thin jawbones.
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Recovering From Sinus Lift Procedures
Swelling and bleeding are the most common side effects after sinus lift procedures. However, the discomfort subsides in a few days allowing you to return to your regular activities as directed by the dentist. The most complicating concern after the sinus lift procedure is the perforation of the Schneiderian membrane lining the maxillary sinus cavity. The perforation increases the risk for chronic sinusitis and infections.
If your sinus lifts procedure proceeds without complications, you receive recovery instructions from the dentist include information like:
- Taking antibiotics is recommended to avoid infections.
- You must prevent vigorously blowing your nose or sneezing because it can affect the bone grafting material placed.
- You must avoid brushing your teeth for some time for fear of dislodging any clots or bleeding.
- You can take pain relievers if you experience discomfort from the procedure.
- You must refrain from using a straw for drinking because it can dislodge the blood clots that prevent bleeding.
- Smoking can impair healing time because the chemicals in tobacco are harmful. Therefore you must stay away from tobacco use after you undergo the sinus lift procedure.
If you intend to have dental implants in your upper jawbone, consider scheduling an appointment with the Phoenix dentist to evaluate your mouth and determine whether you need the sinus lift procedure.
Benefits Of A Sinus Lift
Being told you need a sinus lift before getting dental implants may seem daunting, but is no cause for concern. Sinus augmentation is aroutine form of oral surgery to make it possible to get dental implants even after bone loss.
Without a sinus lift, many people would have to miss out on dental implants, which are placed directly into bone tissue implants are only as stable as the bone that supports the titanium posts that act as a tooth root.
Sinus augmentation can benefit individuals who want dental implants but have:
- Small jaw structure.
- Deteriorated upper jaw.
Sinus augmentation can also facilitate the use of dental implants in cases of extensive bone loss due to gum disease, cancer treatment or trauma.
Benefits of dental implants include:
- Promotion of bone growth.
- Restoring your smile and boosting self-confidence.
- Providing a life-long tooth replacement.
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How Is A Sinus Lift Performed
Your dentist will tell you if you need a sinus lift once youve had a clinical assessment. This is when your dentist assesses your mouth to see what kind of treatment you need and if youre suitable for implants. They may also suggest you have a to assess the condition of your jaw.
Depending on the complexity of the procedure you need, you may have your sinus lift performed in your practice or in hospital. If a complex sinus lift procedure is required, for instance where bone from your hip is used, this will be done in hospital under general anaesthetic.
When To Consult A Doctor After A Sinus Lift
You must notify your dentist right away if you continue to feel increased pain or persistent bleeding two to three days after your sinus lift surgery. Another indication of a sinus graft failure is if you get a sensation that it has moved out of place. This can occur due to vigorous sneezing, so you should see a doctor. A fever, pus coming from the surgical site, or inflammation, are all signs of infection thus, you must visit your dentist as soon as possible.
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Sinus Lift Risks And Complications
The main risk of this surgery is the piercing or tearing of the membrane. In the rare event that this happens, it can be stitched or patched to repair it. Often the surgery can still continue as planned in other cases the membrane must be given time to heal before the lift takes place.
There is also a chance that the body will reject the bone graft, eventually pushing it out from where it was placed. Infection is a common risk of any surgery, but antibiotics are usually prescribed to protect against this. If you’re given a course of antibiotics, it’s important to finish them all.
You should visit your implant surgeon if you experience any of the following the surgery:
- An unusual flow of liquids or air between your nose and mouth
- Small graft particles discharging from your nose
- An increase of nasal or sinus congestion near the surgical site
- An increase in swelling on your cheek, mouth, or below the eyes.
In addition, take any medication as prescribed and follow your surgeon’s advice for recovery.
Dr Eyad Tariq
Zygomatic And Pterygoid Implants
- These are placed into facial bones that lie behind the upper jaw.
- They are long and angled so that they enter the mouth for restoration on either removable dentures or fixed bridges.
- The surgery is more complicated compared with conventional dental implant placement and not all surgeons can provide it.
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Sinus Lifts & Augmentation
When do I need a sinus lift? Do all implants need them?
If youre considering getting dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth in your upper jaw, a procedure called a sinus lift may be necessary if you lack sufficient bone mass in your upper jaw to hold dental implants securely.
If you find yourself in that situation, youll want to know a lot about sinus lifts a procedure youve probably never heard of before.
Even if you currently have a full set of healthy upper teeth, you might still be curious about sinus lifts given that tooth loss among older people in Singapore is prevalent.
In this article, well be looking in some detail at the sinus lift and what you can expect if you ever find yourself in need of one.
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 .
- Bone may have been absorbed back into the body if teeth have been missing for some time.
- Medical conditions including cancer.
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Complications And Its Management
Sinus membrane perforation is the most common intraoperative complication, which occurs in 7%35% of sinus augmentation procedures. Factors that affect sinus membrane perforation during osteotomy include vigorous instrumentation during elevation and thickness of the sinus membrane. Sinus membrane perforation increases rates of postoperative sinusitis and graft failure. Vlassis and Fugazzotto proposed a classification system for elevation and treatment. If a membrane is perforated when creating the lateral window outline, the osteotomy is extended several millimeters beyond the original window to reestablish contact with the intact membrane. If membrane perforation occurs during the lifting of sinus membrane and is a small defect of < 2 mm it can be left to heal itself but if the perforation is more than 2 mm, the opening can be patched with a piece of hydrated resorbable collagen barrier that’s large enough to cover the tear by several millimetres.
Other complications are related to the presence of preexisting antral pathologies, such as rhinosinusitis, odontogenic sinus diseases, pseudocysts, retention cysts, and mucoceles.
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 youve 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.
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When Should You Call A Professional After A Sinus Lift
Although healing after a sinus lift is usually straightforward, there are some cases where you may need extra support. After a sinus lift, you should contact your surgeon if:
- Swelling or pain increases over time.
- Bleeding continues after 1-2 days or is bright red and continuous.
- The bone-graft material has dislodged after sneezing or blowing your nose.
- You have a fever
If you have a sinus lift coming up, you now know what to expect throughout the surgery process. Your dentist or surgeon will need to take an X-ray of your mouth to determine what they’ll need to do during the procedure. Once it takes place, you’ll get the support you need to recover from your surgeon, which may include pain medicine, antibiotics, and or a rinse. Remember that it will take some time before your dental professional can place your dentures. You’ll also need to see them for a check-up a week or so after the sinus lift. If you notice anything severe like pain, bleeding, or if you have a fever, call your surgeon right away. We wish you a speedy recovery in your sinus lift and know that with all of these questions answered, you can feel confident as you go through the procedure. Be well.
Sinus Lift Surgery For Teeth Implants: Procedure Costs And More
Being told you need a sinus lift before getting tooth implants may seem daunting, but there is no need to worry. It’s a relatively common restorative surgical procedure that can make it possible for you to have implants even after suffering bone loss.
Here you can read all about what a sinus lift for implants involves, what sinus surgery costs in the US, and what to expect afterward. Don’t miss our tips for reducing the cost of the procedure it’s possible to save hundreds if you know how!
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Who Is A Candidate For A Sinus Lift
We may suggest a sinus lift if you:
- Are missing a single tooth in the back of your jaw
- Are missing multiple teeth in the back of your jaw
- Are missing substantial bone mass in the back of your jaw
- Are missing teeth due to a congenital defect or condition
- Are missing most of the maxillary teeth, and thus need support for dental implants
What Are The Side Effects Of A Sinus Lift
The main side effect of a sinus lift is that the membranes of the sinus may be punctured. If this happens during the procedure, the dentist will stitch the place up or put a patch on the area. If this isnt successful, youll need to take some time off for the area to heal before a second sinus lift attempt is made. Infection is another risk after any surgical procedure, but this is a rare occurrence after a sinus lift.
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Problems That May Happen Later
- Facial pain and swelling after 2 to 7 days
- Severe facial bruising appearing after 1 to 3 days
- No graft present after maturation phase. The risk of failure is higher in some people, especially in smokers. Your surgeon will tell you if they think your risk of failure is higher than normal .
- Insufficient bone generated for implant placement
What To Expect With A Sinus Lift
If your dentist determines that you need a sinus lift, there is no reason to worry. Thanks to modern surgical techniques and sedation, you should feel little to nothing during the procedure. You can expect to spend at least a few hours in your dentists office, and you should have a friend or family member available to drive you home.
Some swelling and minor bleeding are common in the days following the surgery, but most patients are feeling relatively normal within a week or two. However, it may take several months before your graft is fully integrated into your bone and you are able to receive a dental implant.
A sinus lift can be an important stepping stone on your way to a restored smile! Your dentist would be happy to further educate you on this remarkable procedure.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. John E. Russo is a highly experienced, highly trained dentist in the Orlando area with more than 25 years of experience in his field. He offers a number of advanced services, including sinus lifts and dental implant placement. If you would like to learn more about dental implants and the treatment process they require, contact our office at 407-843-2112.
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The Sinus Lift Bone Graft
Grafting bone to the upper jaw in the area of the premolar and molar teeth is an essential part of sinus augmentation.
The bone graft fills in areas where bone is deficient or missing and acts as a supporting platform to encourage new bone growth over time, with collagen and proteins in the existing bone acting as a catalyst.
The grafted bone can come from a variety of sources. In many cases, the preferred option is to get the bone from the patient themselves from another part of the mouth or from the hip or leg. This provides living tissues that helps growth and healing.
Other sources of sinus lift bone graft material include:
- Donated bone tissue when a person dies .
- Synthetic materials such as hydroxyapatite .
All of these materials are safe and are processed and thoroughly disinfected to ensure theyre disease-free and no germs can be passed on to the recipient.
What Will Happen If I Choose Not To Have A Sinus Lift Procedure
Conventional dental implants may not be possible towards the back of the upper jaw. Sinus lift surgery is completely elective and, after considering the possible alternatives the decision to proceed is entirely yours.
Your dentist will discuss all the options to replace your missing teeth again including a denture or a bridge, and the option of no tooth replacement, so that you can decide how to proceed.
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