What is a Sinus lift? Why do you need it?

Over the last decade, more people have needed dental implants, making sinus lift surgery more common. Anyone who needs successful dental implants must have a jawbone meeting the specific standards before surgery.

Upper jaws are one of the most challenging areas for dental implants. Therefore, it usually requires more attention. Dental surgeons perform sinus lifts for successful dental implant installation in case of insufficient jawbone tissue.

What is Sinus Lift?

Sinus augmentation, aka sinus lift, is a surgery to make dental implant installation easier. Some people who need dental implants usually don't have the necessary bone support to complete the process successfully. This usually happens due to bone loss.

Sinus lift surgery is helpful as it can increase the bone in the patient's upper jaw. This is usually done by adding bone between their premolars and molars spaces. In this process, the sinus bone is lifted upward to make space for the bone. This is from where the surgery gets its name, “Sinus Lift.”

Usually, a dental specialist such as a periodontist or oral maxillofacial surgeon handles the sinus lifts.

How is a sinus lift surgery performed?

Here is how the procedure of sinus lift is usually performed:

The day before sinus lift

Patients need to visit their oral surgeon one day before the surgery for sinus lifts. The oral surgeon will discuss the benefits and risks of sinus lifts with them. The patients will have the opportunity to ask whatever they have in their minds regarding sinus lifts.

It is always better to review everything before undergoing any procedure.

On the day of the sinus lift procedure

The oral surgeon will create an incision along the patient's gum line with the posterior tooth on that day. After making the incision, the surgeon will lift the tissue from its surface. This practice will expose the surface bone.

• Now the oral surgeon will use special tools to create a round, small window in the bone to view the sinus.
• After that, the surgeon will move the jaw's membrane up to make it out of the way from the jawbone.
• The surgeon will now place graft material's few granules into the space from where the sinus has lifted. Although the graft amount varies here, it is vital to promote bone growth by replacing the sinus.
• Here the procedure's augmentation part comes in. After placing the grafts, the surgeon will close the tissue with stitches.

After the sinus lift procedure

The sinus lifts take time to heal. The surgeon will give aftercare recommendations to follow. The dental implant will be placed later. Always remember that follow-up appointments with the dental surgeon are essential throughout the healing process.

Reasons why do you need a sinus lift surgery

A sinus lift is a necessary pre-dental implant surgery for patients. It may also require people suffering from the following problems:

• If the sinus cavity is closer to the jawbone and interferes with dental implants.
• Tooth loss has caused bone loss.
• Bone loss because of any gum disease.
• Congenital disabilities.
• Back upper molars loss.

The best way to know if you need a sinus lift is by visiting your dental surgeon.

Visit a specialized dental surgeon for appropriate advice

You can visit a specialized dental surgeon to get advice for dental implants. Ask them if you need a sinus lift procedure before dental implants to get ready for the process more efficiently.

The dental surgeon will examine your oral cavity thoroughly by taking an x-ray or other important images to understand what's beneath the surface.

They will determine the quality of your jawbone. The dental surgeon will also examine the distance between your jaw bone and sinus cavity to give you appropriate advice.

Contact your dentist in Union City, Dr. Zafar Sayeedi, at Noble Dental Care to know more about sinus lifts.

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.