A sinus lift is a surgical procedure performed on patients who are missing teeth in the area of the molar and premolar to increase the amount of bone in this area to support a dental implant. This is achieved by putting a bone graft into the sinus membrane and waiting for the graft to regenerate enough bone. Once enough bone has regenerated, the dental implant process can begin.
Following the loss of a tooth, the socket of that tooth begins to collapse, which reduces the width and height of surrounding bone. When this occurs following the loss of a premolar or maxillary molar, the area of the jawbone that was already thinner than other areas will diminish even further, which is why a sinus lift is commonly needed for tooth replacement in this area. By using grafting material to grow extra bone, there will be enough bone support to ensure the dental implant is successful.
A sinus lift may also be performed for the following reasons:
- Maxillary sinus too close to jaw
- Insufficient quantity and quality of bone
- Bone loss due to periodontal disease
- Bone deficiency associated with a difficult tooth extraction or removal of a cyst or tumor
- Bone reabsorbed into body due to loss of teeth
- Physical trauma to the jaw or face
The Sinus Lift Procedure
Proper placement of the grafting material and implant are critical, which is why a CT scan and X-Rays will be taken prior to your procedure. These diagnostic exams will measure the width and height of your sinus and rule out any pathology or sinus disease.
While there are different methods for performing the sinus lift, the most common approach is to expose the wall of the sinus by making an incision and pulling back the gums, after which a small hole or window is cut to expose the membrane. The membrane is then carefully separated from the bone and lifted up, in order to make enough room to place the graft material. Once this done, the gums are stitched shut and the process of healing can begin. It may be possible to place the dental implant immediately after performing the sinus lift, but in most cases these appointments will need to happen separately and several months apart from one another.
There are different graft materials that may be used, including xenograft, alloplast, allograft, autograft, synthetic variants, or any combination. One of the benefits of the sinus lift procedure is that it has a very high prognosis (approximately 94%). All the same, it is still essential that you closely follow aftercare instructions following your sinus lift, or you will increase your risk of failure and/or developing complications. One of the biggest risks of this procedure is the sinus membrane being ripped or pierced. Should this occur, a patch may be placed, or the tear stitched. If the damage is too severe, the surgery may need to be stopped and rescheduled until after the tear heals. Though this is never an ideal situation, when the sinus membrane grows back, it will be stronger and thicker, which increases the likelihood of the second procedure being a success.