An experienced oral surgeon can recommend a sinus lift before you get your dental implants. This treatment can help elevate the floor of the maxillary sinuses. Knowing how this provider performs this procedure can help you prepare for it. Here are the details on how your oral surgeon performs a sinus lift.
The procedure
The oral surgeon will start by taking CT scans and dental X-rays. The resulting images will help the provider assess the patient’s jawbone health and skull structures. The surgeon will then discuss the different techniques for performing a sinus lift. The right technique will depend on the patient’s condition.
The process usually begins with imaging to evaluate the structures in the skull and the health of the jawbone. This may involve X-rays or a computed tomography scan. A common way to do a sinus lift is to cut a tiny bone disk and place it into the patient’s sinus cavity. Another is creating a moveable flap by cutting a bone in the upper jaw.
Filling the remaining space with bone graft material will follow. The source of the material may be from animals or a human cadaver. It may be from the patient’s own body. Studies show that these sources are all effective.
The oral surgeon will numb the area first before cutting into the gum tissue. This will allow access to the upper jawbone. Cutting the bone and filling the space will follow. Stitching the gum tissue together will encourage healing. The bond graft must fuse with the jaw first before placing a dental implant into this area.
Why this procedure must happen
An oral surgeon may recommend this treatment if the patient’s jawbone density decreases due to conditions like cancer or gum disease. A sinus lift’s goal is to bring back the jawbone’s density. A sinus lift can lengthen the jawbone’s height or increase the distance between the jawbone and the sinus. Performing this surgery can provide strong support for dental implants.
How a sinus lift helps
Individuals who lost molars in the upper jaw tend to have thin upper jawbones. This makes it almost impossible to attach dental implants. An oral surgeon will perform a sinus lift to add more bone to the thinning parts of the upper jaw. It will take at least six to 12 months to complete the healing after this procedure.
Types of sinus lift procedures
There are different techniques involved in a sinus lift. The oral surgeon will assess the patient’s condition first. The technique necessary will depend on the surgeon’s findings. Here are the types of sinus lift surgeries available:
- The internal approach involves tapping the possible implant site where some bone is still present. The oral surgeon could push the grafting material through this section. Placing the dental implant is possible at this time.
- The external approach can happen with and without existing bone. With some existing bone, the oral surgeon can place the implants right away during the procedure. Without existing bone, complete bone healing must take place first before placing the implants.
Your oral surgeon can perform a sinus lift first to help restore your dental health
In some cases, dental implant procedures may take longer to complete because of a thin upper jawbone. The oral surgeon must thicken this part of the jawbone with a bone graft. This will allow the attachment and possible success of the implant surgery. Working with your oral surgeon can result in a healthy recovery. This can then give way to a proper dental restoration.
Request an appointment or call Morris Oral Surgery & Implant Center at 973-400-5254 for an appointment in our Morris Plains office.
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