Dental implants are the single best replacements for real teeth thanks to their permanence, durability, and natural appearance, but they cannot be implanted into the mouth without sufficient bone structure and support. Since many patients lack enough bone to receive implants, a sinus lift procedure was developed to increase the quantity of bone in the upper jaw region. If you are missing teeth and considering or preparing for an implant procedure yourself, it is essential that you understand the functions of a sinus lift and the reasons that you might need one before your implant surgery.
An Introduction to the Sinus Lift Procedure
A sinus lift, sometimes called a sinus augmentation, adds bone to the upper jaw. Though it deals mainly with the mouth and teeth, it is called a sinus lift because the extra bone is added between the jaw and maxillary sinuses on either side of the nose. The sinus must be moved upward and lifted in order to make room for the new bone. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the best professionals to handle a sinus lift procedure.
Will You Need a Sinus Lift?
Many dental implant patients need a sinus lift because they have lost teeth in their upper jaw but don’t have enough bone for implants to be placed. If you have periodontal disease and have been missing teeth for a while, it is likely that your gums and underlying bone have become compromised, in which case a sinus lift would be necessary.
What Should You Expect?
The traditional sinus lift procedure was significantly invasive and required an extensive recovery period before implants could be placed into the jaw bone, but now advanced technologies have been developed to complete a sinus lift without such trauma. One such solution is a closed sinus lift implant that increases the bone’s thickness and provides a dental implant in one minimally invasive procedure. Rather than having to reach into the sinus using aggressive surgical techniques, a hollow channel can be implanted to send fluid through the implant to lift the sinus membrane.
It is important that you only trust your sinus lift procedure to experienced and credible maxillofacial surgeons like Dr. Seider and Dr. Stevens at Broward Oral Surgery Associates. They have been serving Broward County and beyond for decades in order to provide the highest level of quality care to meet every patient’s unique dental needs. Call (954) 241-3143 now to make an appointment at one of Broward Oral Surgery’s two locations in Hollywood and Pembroke Pines, Florida.