At the beginning of your dental implant journey, you will attend a consultation with your care provider. After they gather information about your oral health, they might inform you that you need a sinus lift before getting dental implants. What exactly is a sinus lift, and why is this procedure sometimes necessary? This blog post provides some helpful information.
What Is a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift is a specific type of dental bone grafting procedure. During this surgery, your dental team will carefully access your sinus membrane through your upper jaw and move it slightly upward. Then, they will place bone material (perhaps natural or synthetic bone) beneath it.
The goal of a sinus lift is to make sure there is enough room in the upper jawbone to accommodate a dental implant. Without this preparatory procedure, an implant could go all the way through your sinus membrane and cause complications.
Will You Need a Sinus Lift?
Not every patient requires a sinus lift. However, it is fairly common. You might need this procedure if:
- You lost your natural teeth some time ago. After tooth extractions, the jawbone starts to shrink. It can even change to the point where it can no longer support a dental implant. This leads to the need for a bone graft.
- Your sinuses are naturally large. This could be due to genetics or a number of other factors.
- You were injured. Some types of physical trauma can affect the structure and health of the jawbone so much that a sinus lift becomes necessary.
Your dental team should take X-rays or a CBCT scan to reveal for sure whether a sinus lift is necessary in your unique case.
What Can You Expect from a Sinus Lift?
Modern dental techniques ensure that sinus lift surgery is fairly comfortable. In fact, with the aid of local anesthesia and/or sedation, you might not feel anything during your procedure. Afterward, you can expect to experience some swelling and soreness. Your dental team will provide detailed instructions to support your body’s healing process and minimize your discomfort.
The soft tissue at your surgical site should heal within just 1 – 2 weeks. It might take up to 6 – 12 months for the bone to completely recover and form a strong bond with the grafted material. After that occurs, you may be able to move forward with dental implants.
A sinus lift can play a key role in the success of your new smile! Talk to your dentist to learn more about this advanced procedure.
Meet the Practice
At New Haven Dental Group, we proudly offer comprehensive dental implant services, including advanced procedures like bone grafts and sinus lifts. If you are curious about what it would take to replace your missing teeth, we are ready to answer your questions and start designing a custom treatment plan. Get in touch with our Hamden office at 203-587-7327.