Have you been told you don’t have enough bone for a dental implant? A sinus lift may be your solution!
Dental implants have revolutionized dental prosthetics as a permanent solution to missing teeth. However, successful dental implants need a sufficient amount of healthy bone to secure the post to, and not every patient has this as a result of major tooth decay, periodontal disease, or multiple tooth loss.
Are dental implants still a viable option even without enough bone?
There is a solution if you’ve been told that you don’t have enough bone for dental implants! At the Alaska Center for Oral + Facial Surgery, we provide a resolution for perfectly placed dental implants! Discover what a sinus lift is in today’s post!
A Solution For Dental Prosthetics!
To secure a prosthetic tooth a metal post has to be placed. When placing the metal post, if there is not enough room for the implant to be housed, the room needs to be created and this is exactly the function of a sinus lift.
A sinus lift can correct this issue by raising the sinus floor (the area above your teeth and jaw) and filling a small area large and sturdy enough to secure an implant.
How does a sinus lift work?
A sinus lift can be completed in a few steps. Let’s look at them more in-depth below.
Incision
A small incision at the missing tooth site exposes the jaw bone and prepares the area for initial drilling.
Drilling
A very small, surgical drill begins creating a small, circular hole in the area where bone compression screws help breach the jawbone area and into the sinus space.
Bone Graft Material
Bone graft material (donor or artificial bone) is then used to fill the space and gently pushes up and packs in the area.
Closing
After the bone graft material is placed, the area will be closed and stitched shut.
The procedure itself can last anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes with healing time around 2 to 3 days. After the initial sinus lift procedure, you’ll have a post-op appointment roughly 7 to 10 days later where your stitches will be removed and the oral surgeon will ensure that everything is healing well.
How long after a sinus lift are dental implants an option?
Because bone graft material is used to create enough healthy bone for implants, it takes several months for this to harden and assimilate into the jawbone. Once this has occurred, the new dental implants can be placed!
Support dental implants with a sinus lift!
Maxillofacial surgery has progressed greatly! It used to be that if you didn’t have enough healthy bone, dentures and partials were the only dental prosthetics available. With the invention of a sinus lift, dental implants are now an option for most people. They create a bone-like area where dental implants can be attached safely and securely.
A sinus lift provides you a permanent solution and the freedom to eat and speak with confidence!