If you are considering having a sinus lift procedure, it is important to know that this procedure will significantly alter the structure of your upper jawbone, and will involve a recovery period, during which there will be swelling and discomfort. A local anesthetic will be administered to reduce sensation and dental sedation may be provided as well. Depending on the type of dental sedation used, it is possible that you will experience some side effects following the procedure, which may include:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Headache
- Fogginess
- No memory of procedure being performed
Many patients will not experience any side effects from sedation, but for those who do, these side effects should wear off a few hours after treatment is complete. If these issues persist, contact your dental office.
Recovery Period Following a Sinus Lift
Every patient has a different natural healing process, but on average, it will take three to five months for the grafting process to regenerate enough bone. Once this process is complete, a follow up appointment can be scheduled to place the dental implant. In some cases, it may be possible to perform the sinus lift and dental implant procedure in one visit, but oftentimes the process will have to take place over multiple visits. Immediately following your sinus lift procedure, you can plan on returning to work within two or three days, but avoid strenuous physical activity for at least seven days or longer if possible. Engaging in these type of activities increases the risk of your stitches becoming loosened or the grafting material moving.
During this recovery period, it is important to follow aftercare instructions in order to reduce the risk of developing side effects or complications. The most common side effect you will experience follow treatment is swelling and bruising near the surgery site. Placing an ice pack over these areas for ten to fifteen-minute intervals can help reduce swelling. You may be prescribed pain medication and/or antibiotics. It is important to take these as prescribed until the prescription runs out. If you are not prescribed pain medication and are experiencing discomfort, over the counter pain medication can be taken. It is also common to have some bleeding from your mouth and nose, which can be managed with gauze pad and should subside within a few hours.
Continue practicing good oral hygiene during this time, but make sure you are not rinsing to forcefully. Instead, gently swirl water in your mouth, then let it drip out. Spitting the water out too forcefully may cause bleeding to return. Patients who adhere to aftercare instructions will generally not develop issues and enjoy a fast recovery process and be side effect free within one week, although the time it will take for the graft to integrate with the jawbone will be much longer. This recovery period will vary greatly from patient to patient and could be as short as three months or as long as nine months. If you are experiencing pain that seems excessive or are concerned that your healing process is not progressing as it should, contact your dentist for further instructions.