A sinus lift, sometimes called a sinus augmentation or bone grafting, is surgery that adds
bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars to make it taller. 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 or a periodontist.
A sinus lift is done when there is not enough bone in the upper jaw, or the sinuses are too close
to the jaw, for dental implants to be placed. There are several reasons for this:
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 stitched closed. Your
implants will be placed four to nine months later, depending on the graft material that was used.
This allows time for the grafted material to mesh with your bone.
After the procedure, you may have some swelling of the area, and may bleed from your mouth
or nose. You should not blow your nose or sneeze, because these activities can cause the
bone-graft material to move, and can cause the stitches to loosen. Your dentist may give you
saline sprays to keep the inner lining of your nose wet and prescribe medication to prevent
sneezing. If you have seasonal allergies, you should schedule the procedure when they are
not active. You also will be given pain medication, an antibiotic and an antimicrobial mouthwash
to help prevent infection. Most patients have only a little discomfort after a sinus-lift procedure.
You will see the specialist after 5 days to have the sutures removed, and for the specialist to
see how you are healing. Your probably will be asked to return a few more times to make sure
the area is healing properly. After a sinus lift, you need to wait several months for the bony
material to harden and integrate with your jaw. Once this happens, the implants will be placed.
The main risk of a sinus lift is that the sinus membrane could be punctured or torn. If the
membrane is torn during the procedure, the surgeon will either stitch the sinus tear or place
a patch over it. If the graft material cannot be contained, your surgeon may stop the procedure
and give the perforation time to heal. Your dentist can redo the sinus lift once the membrane
has healed, usually a few months later.
bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars to make it taller. 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 or a periodontist.
A sinus lift is done when there is not enough bone in the upper jaw, or the sinuses are too close
to the jaw, for dental implants to be placed. There are several reasons for this:
- Many people who have lost teeth in their upper jaw - particularly the back teeth, or molars -
do not have enough bone for implants to be placed. Because of the anatomy of the skull, the
back of the upper jaw has less bone than the lower jaw. - Bone may have been lost because of periodontal (gum) disease.
- Once teeth are gone, bone begins to be resorbed (absorbed back into the body). If teeth have
been missing for a long time, there often is not enough bone left to place implants. - The maxillary sinus may be too close to the upper jaw for implants to be placed. The shape
and the size of this sinus varies among individuals. In addition, the sinus can get larger as
you age.
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 stitched closed. Your
implants will be placed four to nine months later, depending on the graft material that was used.
This allows time for the grafted material to mesh with your bone.
After the procedure, you may have some swelling of the area, and may bleed from your mouth
or nose. You should not blow your nose or sneeze, because these activities can cause the
bone-graft material to move, and can cause the stitches to loosen. Your dentist may give you
saline sprays to keep the inner lining of your nose wet and prescribe medication to prevent
sneezing. If you have seasonal allergies, you should schedule the procedure when they are
not active. You also will be given pain medication, an antibiotic and an antimicrobial mouthwash
to help prevent infection. Most patients have only a little discomfort after a sinus-lift procedure.
You will see the specialist after 5 days to have the sutures removed, and for the specialist to
see how you are healing. Your probably will be asked to return a few more times to make sure
the area is healing properly. After a sinus lift, you need to wait several months for the bony
material to harden and integrate with your jaw. Once this happens, the implants will be placed.
The main risk of a sinus lift is that the sinus membrane could be punctured or torn. If the
membrane is torn during the procedure, the surgeon will either stitch the sinus tear or place
a patch over it. If the graft material cannot be contained, your surgeon may stop the procedure
and give the perforation time to heal. Your dentist can redo the sinus lift once the membrane
has healed, usually a few months later.
