What Is a Sinus Lift and How Does It Relate to Dental Implants?
Dr. Allan Libunao and Dr. Richard Kim are leading oral surgeons proudly serving the Bolingbrook area. When patients require routine dental surgery and advanced oral surgery, our team can provide straight answers and ample guidance in the process.
We've had a number of patients who've experienced bone loss linked to missing teeth. Let's explore the link between these issues and how we can help you have a healthy and beautiful smile again.
Bone Loss and Missing Teeth: Understanding the Link
When you are missing a tooth or multiple teeth, a number of problems may arise. One of these problems is bone loss. When there is no longer a tooth root to support, the bone recedes as does the gum tissue. The result is less hard tissue along the dental ridge in the area of a tooth gap.
Bone loss can take some time to occur, but it becomes a serious issue when a person is missing multiple teeth for a long time. Major bone loss can leave a person's lips and cheeks looks hollow or saggy because of the changes to the bone structure of the mouth.
Why Bone Loss Prevents People from Getting Dental Implants
For dental implants to function properly, they need to be surgically anchored into the jawbone and gum tissue of a patient's mouth. This allows for a fusion of the dental implant with the living tissues in a patient's mouth.
When a patient has suffered from bone loss, there is no longer sufficient bone structure in place to support a dental implant. The only way for that patient to be eligible for dental implants again is to undergo bone grafting surgery.
About Sinus Lift Surgery
A sinus lift surgery is performed in order to add bone density to the upper jaw around the molars and premolars. The procedure is sometimes referred to as a sinus augmentation. The bone that is added is placed between the jaw and the maxillary sinuses located on either side of the nose, with the sinus membrane lifted to accommodate said bone.
The bone used for sinus lift surgery is typically donor bone taken from the patient's own body. This typically means bone taken from the hip or shin. Artificial bone grafts or bone from a bone bank may also be used in some cases.
Good Candidates for Sinus Lift Surgery
Good candidates for sinus lift surgery are people who experience issues with a lack of bone density in the upper jaw. They should be in good health overall and not suffer from serious health issues that would make oral surgery a risky endeavor.
Risks and Benefits of Sinus Lift Surgery
One of the primary risks of sinus lift surgery is the tearing or puncturing of the sinus membrane. Should that occur, the sinus membrane will need to heal before the surgery can be performed again. There is also the possibility of the bone graft being rejected, which is rare. As with all surgeries, there is also a slight risk of infection.
The primary benefit of sinus lift surgery is that it restores bone density to the upper jaw and allows patients to get dental implants. Before the implant dentistry procedure can proceed, the bone tissue must heal first. This will generally take a few months.
Learn More About Implant Dentistry
To learn more about implant dentistry and how it can help you look your absolute best, be sure to contact our oral surgery and advanced dental care center today. The team at Suburban Oral Surgery and Implant Center looks forward to your visit and helping you have a healthiest smile possible.