Sinus Lifts and Dental Implants
San Antonio, TX

Dental Implants Diagram by San Antonio Dentist at Excellent Dental Specialists.Dental implants are one of the best options to replace missing teeth because they prevent further tooth loss and look and work like your natural teeth. This dental procedure has become one of the most popular choices of aging adults who have had missing teeth for several years or those who want to get something better than dentures.

However, not everyone is an immediate candidate for dental implants because we need strong bone structure in your gums and sometimes that is not present for many reasons. Even though having a sinus lift may sound terrifying here at Excellent Dental Specialists we have the experience to do this procedure in preparation for dental implants.

Why You May Need a Sinus Lift

A sinus lift is a relatively simple procedure in which the maxillary sinuses, which are located close to your upper teeth, are lifted or augmented, to increase the bone in that area so it can support a dental implant.

If you suffer from sinus infections, you may feel them on your teeth, because of the way in which the maxillary sinuses rest on your face. You feel the pressure from the inflammation of the sinuses on the root of the tooth causing pain and discomfort. These symptoms are also prevalent in patients who suffer from seasonal allergies.

One of the primary requirements for dental implants is that enough bone structure is present so that it can hold the implants in place. Fortunately, a sinus lift can help.

There are several other reasons for a sinus lift including:

Injury to the upper jaw
Bone loss due to periodontal disease
Bone recession
Large sinus cavity
Thin jaw bone
Insufficient jaw bone

We will go through a detailed evaluation of your jawbone to see if you need a sinus lift for your dental implants. To do this, you will need an x-ray or CT scan to evaluate the condition of your jaw and determine if you are a good candidate for this surgery.
There are several options to choose the bone graft from, among them:

Your body, usually the leg or hip
Donated bone
Animal bone (usually cow bone)
A synthetic material from a bank

 

Sinus Lift Surgery

Our surgeon will most likely make an incision into your bone to create what we call a “window” that exposes the sinus cavity. Then we lift the membrane and fill the space below with the bone graft. When the procedure is completed, we stitch everything back together.

This is the most common approach to perform sinus lift surgery for dental implants, but every patient is different, and the procedure will depend on your circumstances.

One of the most significant risks with sinus lift surgery is rupturing the sinus membrane, but in general, this is a very safe surgery. The recovery is relatively short, but you will have to come back for a follow-up appointment to see how you are healing. You should be ready for your dental implants in approximately 4 to 9-months.

Our goal at Excellent Dental Specialists is for you to have a successful dental implant surgery, so if you have any questions following your consultation about sinus lift surgery, please contact us.