Single Tooth Implant
Ann Arbor, MI
 Did you know there are procedures that are sometimes required prior to a single tooth or multiple tooth dental implant? Sometimes patients do not have enough jawbone to sustain a dental implant. A sinus lift, also known as a sinus raise or sinus augmentation, is a standard procedure that enables easier dental implantation. Some patients require dental implants but have experienced bone damage. This means that they lack adequate bone support for the implants. The sinus lift technique increases the bone volume required for dental implants in the upper jaw. For dental implant patients, this is one of the most popular bone grafting procedures. At Everwell Dentistry we utilize sinus lifts to help restore both your smile and your confidence.
Reasons You Might Need a Sinus Lift
A sinus lift is a minor dental procedure done to provide an improved amount of dental reinforcement, by adding additional bone to the upper jaw. The extra bone is usually inserted between the top jaw and the maxillary sinuses in the jaw section, which includes the premolars or molars.
If you lack teeth and bone in the back of your jaw close to your sinuses, sinus augmentation might be appropriate. Due to congenital disabilities, periodontal disorder, cancer, other medical disorders or as part of the normal healing process for separate treatment, jawbone structure and teeth in this region may be missing.
If your sinuses are too close to your upper jaw and the dental surgeon needs more room to position the dental implant, a sinus lift may be used. Another reason why you might need a sinus lift surgery is if you have a cyst or tumor removed from the region, in which case a sinus lift may be necessary before an implant. A sinus lift can also be used if your bone has less density because of tooth loss, or if your jawbone has been damaged previously.
This bone graft technique aims to grow and develop additional bone in the sinus floor, allowing dental implants to be more successfully placed in the new bone growth. For this reason, sinus lifts remain one of the most popular bone grafting procedures for dental patients.
How Does the Sinus Lift Procedure Work?
In most cases, in the premolar and molar region, a minor incision is made to expose the jawbone. Another slight opening is pushed into the sinus, and the sinus tissue covering is carefully raised; the area below is filled with material for bone grafting. The substance may be extracted from your own body, from engineered materials that imitate bone structure, or even from alternative sources, depending on the patient’s needs.
The new bone is inserted, the incision is closed, and the healing process begins. The new bone becomes part of the patient's jaw after several months, after which the implants are inserted and stabilized in the newly formed bone.
The operation may be performed during the same appointment as the sinus lift if an autogenous bone graft is taken from the patient's chin. However, the operation must be done in a hospital if the bone graft is to be removed from the patient's hip. To spare patients from additional surgical procedures and visits, many dentists prefer to use allografts, which are bones taken from other human donors.
Is There any Risk Involved?
As with all surgical procedures, there is always a small element of risk involved. One of the more significant risks of a sinus lift is that the sinus membrane might be pierced or torn. If this occurs, treatments include stitching the tear or adding a patch. In extreme circumstances, the surgery is entirely stopped until the incision has time to recover, usually three to six months. Sometimes the injured sinus membrane heals back thicker and healthier, making a second procedure more likely to succeed.
Another issue that can emerge is if the bone does not fully integrate with the graft material. An unsuccessful integration can prevent proper blood flow, weakening or even killing the new bone growth and causing them to fail. When a dental implant fails, often the only choice is to wait for recovery and attempt the procedure again. Lastly, there is a small risk of infection, which is true for any surgical procedure.
If you are looking to have a sinus lift procedure performed before you get dental implants, or if you wish to get more information before making that decision, we are more than happy to help. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us here at Everwell Dentistry by giving us a call at (734) 973-0000 today to speak with our friendly and knowledgeable staff. |
