A sinus lift is a surgical procedure that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars. It's sometimes called a sinus augmentation. The bone is added between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses, which are on either side of your nose. To make room for the bone, the sinus membrane has to be moved upward, or "lifted." A sinus lift usually is done by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Why Is a Sinus Lift Needed?
You may need a sinus lift if:
- You are missing more than one tooth in the back of your jaw
- You are missing a significant amount of bone in the back of your jaw
- You are missing teeth due to a birth defect or condition
- You are missing most of the maxillary (upper) teeth and need support for dental implants
Bone may have been lost because of periodontal (gum) disease or tooth loss. After teeth are removed, bone is often lost, too. The floor of the sinus can get lower as bone is lost. Sinus lifts have become common as more people get dental implants to replace missing teeth.
What Happens During a Sinus Lift?
Dr. Butura will cut the gum tissue near your premolars and molars. The tissue is raised, exposing the bone. A small, oval window is opened in the bone. The membrane lining the sinus on the other side of the window separates your sinus from your jaw. This membrane is gently pushed up and away from your jaw.
Granules of bone-graft material are then packed into the space where the sinus was. The amount of bone used will vary, but usually several millimeters of bone is added above the jaw.
Once the bone is in place, the tissue is closed with stitches. Your implants will be placed after the graft has healed, which can take anywhere from four months to a year. The time depends on how much bone was needed.
What Happens After a Sinus Lift?
You may have some swelling of the area. You may bleed from your mouth or nose. Do not blow your nose or sneeze forcefully. Either could cause the bone-graft material to move and loosen the stitches.
Dr. Butura may give you saline sprays to keep the inner lining of your nose wet and prescribe medicine to prevent congestion and inflammation. You also may be given pain medicine, an antibiotic, and an antimicrobial mouthwash to help prevent infection. Most people have only a little discomfort after a sinus-lift procedure.
What Are the Risks of a Sinus Lift?
The main risk of a sinus lift is that the sinus membrane could be punctured or torn. If the membrane is torn, the surgeon will either stitch the sinus membrane or place a patch over it. If the repair is not possible, the surgeon will stop the procedure and give the tear time to heal before trying again. The surgery is usually repeated in a few months. Having a sinus lift does not guarantee that dental implants will be successful. Overall, sinus lifts have been shown to greatly increase the success of implants in the upper back jaw.
Would You Like to Learn More About Sinus Lifts?
If you're considering dental implants and have been told you don't have enough bone in your upper jaw, a sinus lift may be the solution. Contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Butura.