If you decide to go for a dental implant, you might uncover a surprising factor behind it, that you need to go through a sinus life surgery. This happens in case you don’t have sufficient bone structure left to support your implant. However, it won’t bother you much if you already know what a sinus lift is, and why you need one. So, let’s discuss.
What is a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift is a surgery to enhance the amount of bone in the upper jaw. A small incision is made in the tissue of your gum to create a hole in the upper jawbone. This helps your dentist gently elevate your sinus so some area for a bone graft can be freed up. The gum is stitched after the procedure. This is performed under anesthesia and takes hardly two hours.
Reasons You Might Need a Sinus Lift
When you bite and chew with missing teeth, your jawbone keeps stimulating. This stimulation causes your body to reabsorb the bone. Dental implants can put a full stop to this, but if your bone is already reabsorbed your upper jaw will not be able to hold an implant in place. To handle this, your dentist will push your sinus upward to make room for bone grafting.
When healed your bone will be ready to support an implant treatment. However, there are several other cases, which require a sinus lift:
- You were bone with a thin jawbone, which means an extensive sinus cavity.
- Your jawbone has been injured in the past.
- Periodontics has stimulated bone loss.
- Tumor or cyst removal surgery is performed in this part.
What to Expect Prior, During, and Post Surgery
Before the procedure begins, your periodontics will figure out the source of bone to prepare for the surgery. It can either be an autogenous bone retrieved from your mouth or formed with a synthetic bone-like material. Then your dentist will study your jaw dimensions and sinus anatomy to determine which sinus lift technique is suitable in your case. Here’s what you can expect during the surgery:
- To ensure your comfort during the surgery, you are given IV or oral sedation as per your requirements.
- A minor incision in your gum tissue to reveal the bone.
- Retrieving a tiny fragment of the bone being careful with the fragile sinus membranes.
- Gently shove the bone fragment into the sinus cavity to elevate the membrane.
- Put bone graft materials on the lifted membrane before stitching your gum tissue close.
After the surgery, you might experience some discomforts like bleeding and swelling but your dental specialist will provide you with a proper care guideline. Although the healing duration is slow and can take up to 6 months the benefits afterwards are worth it.
Risks Associated with Sinus Lift
As alarming as a sinus lift surgery sounds, the risk factors linked with it are very low. Which can be fully eliminated if you are in the hands of skilled periodontics. A worth-mentioning risk is the tearing or piercing of the sinus membrane but luckily, it can be instantly repaired. The other minor risk is sinus infection, which is common and can easily be cured with medicines.
Contact an Experienced Periodontal Surgeon
When it comes to surgical procedures, one must leave no stone unturned to find the best surgeon as one wrong move during a surgery can lead to further complications and, at times irreversible damages.
You can consider reaching out to expert periodontics at Vintage Oral Surgery for any kind of dental help. Dial 281-800-8852 without a delay.