What is a Sinus Lift?
There are many different terms used to describe the procedure commonly known as a sinus lift, including maxillary sinus floor augmentation, sinus graft, and sinus augmentation. This surgical procedure is primarily performed to prepare the oral cavity for a dental implant, though it may be used in other instances. The goal of a sinus lift procedure is to increase the volume of healthy bone in the upper jaw by placing a bone graft beneath the lower sinus membrane. When a person loses one of their natural teeth, the bone in the jaw gradually changes, filling in the socket where the tooth once was and diminishing the quality and volume of adjacent bone. Because an optimal amount of healthy bone is needed to securely support dental implants, this may necessitate bone grafts before implants can be safely placed. When one of the molars or premolars – the larger teeth toward the back of the mouth – is lost, the sinus cavity that exists just above the upper jaw, or maxillary sinus, can increase in volume as the bone diminishes, resulting in even weaker and more compromised bone at the floor of the sinus. In a sinus lift, extra bone is grafted into this maxillary sinus, providing sufficient bone to effectively support a dental implant while protecting the sinus itself.
How Do I Know If I Need A Sinus Lift?
Your dentist will examine your oral cavity, using x-rays and digital imaging technology to evaluate the bone in your jaw, periodically as part of your routine dental exams. If you’re considering replacing one or more missing teeth with dental implants, your dentist will also perform a thorough, comprehensive evaluation, using panoramic x-rays and other technologies to assess the health and condition of the facial bones and the sinuses. This is the best way to know whether you’ll require a sinus lift or any other bone grafting procedures before implants can be placed, and it also helps dentists to determine whether a sinus lift will be successful or whether another approach is needed for dental restoration. In most cases, patients who require sinus lift procedures have lost more than one premolar or molar in the upper, or maxillary, jaw; are missing teeth because of a genetic defect; or are missing multiple maxillary teeth and are therefore receiving multiple dental implants.
What is the Sinus Lift Procedure Like?
While there are some variations in the sinus lift procedure, the procedure is performed while the patient is anesthetized with either a local or general anesthetic. With the patient’s mouth open, the dentist makes a small incision into the gums, pulling back the gum tissue and exposing the wall of the sinus. Once this sinus wall is exposed, the dentist cuts into the sinus to expose the membrane that rests between the sinus cavity and the jawbone. After separating this membrane from the bone, bone graft material is placed; then, the membrane is sutured back together and the site is given time to heal. It can take several months for bone grafts to fully integrate with existing bone. In many procedures, a dental implant is placed directly into the bone graft area during the sinus lift itself, though sometimes the implant is placed in a separate procedure after the bone has partially healed. The dental implant then integrates with the developing bone as it heals. Once the bone has fully healed, the dental implant provides a secure, permanent platform for a dental crown or other permanent dental restoration.