Is a Sinus Lift Required for Dental Implants?

Over the years, dental implants have changed the way we deal with missing teeth. These handy tools are one of the fastest ways to get a Hollywood smile, yet not everyone is an immediate candidate for the procedure. 

By any chance, if you’ve lost a lot of bone in your upper jaw, you’ll be recommended to do a sinus lift. This phenomenon happens especially if the loss is around your molars and premolars.

If you somehow fit this bill and you want to know what a sinus lift is and why it stands in the way of your Hollywood smile, this post is just what the dentist ordered. We’ll cover what a sinus lift means and how it relates to your dental implants.

Let’s get into it.

It all begins with the maxillary sinuses.

Your maxillary sinuses are air-filled cavities located above the upper teeth. When you lose teeth in your upper jaw, be it from periodontal disease, trauma, or natural deterioration, the surrounding bone can begin to thin out over time. This bone loss becomes a roadblock when you want to install a dental implant, since dental implants require sufficient bone height for stability.

A sinus lift is a procedure designed to solve this problem.

Also known as sinus augmentation or sinus lift surgery, a sinus lift is a dental procedure where bone is added to the upper jaw. The procedure generally involves gently lifting your sinus membrane and inserting grafting material into the newly created space. This little trick will cause your body to create new bones in the place.In the end, it leads to the creation of a strong foundation for your dental implants.

To answer this question, you need to meet with your dentist first. But generally, you’ll need a sinus lift if:

• The jawbone is near your sinus cavity: If your sinus floor is too close to the jawbone surface and an implant is installed, it could penetrate the sinus cavity. So that does not happen, the surgery becomes compulsory.
• You have tooth loss in the upper jaw: If you’ve lost teeth in the back of your upper jaw, there’s a high chance that the bone may have reduced since then. As such, you might require augmentation. This usually occurs in the form of a sinus lift.
• You have insufficient bone height: Dental implants need a certain amount of bone for stability. Should the bone in your upper jaw be insufficient or excessively thin, the implant may not secure itself. This warrants a sinus lift.

Not everyone needs a sinus lift. The procedure is only necessary for folks who:

• Have lost one or more teeth in your upper jaw.
• Suffer from maxillary sinusitis, which has led to changes in the sinus membrane or floor.
• Have lost bone in your jaw due to periodontal disease or trauma.
• Have a naturally thin upper jawbone.

A sinus lift is a straightforward procedure. It looks something like this:

1. Preparation and Imaging
   • The procedure will start with a complete dental and sinus assessment by your oral surgeon. They will use X-rays, CT scans, and other dental methods to check your sinus cavity, bone structure, and other necessary features. This information helps your dentist know if you’ll need a sinus lift.
2. Incision and Flap Creation
   • Here, the surgeon administers anesthesia or some other sedative after preparing you for the surgery. Next up, he/she will make a little cut into your gum tissue. This incision is where they will put the implant later on. Next, the gum flap will be gently lifted to expose the underlying jawbone.
3. Accessing the Sinus Cavity
   • When the jawbone becomes accessible, the surgeon will make a small hole in it. This opening gives the surgeon access to your sinus membrane. This sinus membrane is what separates your sinus cavity from the bone in the upper jaw.
4. Lifting the Sinus Membrane
   • Here, the thin sinus membrane (also called the Schneiderian membrane) is carefully detached from the bone and lifted upward into the sinus cavity. This step creates a small void or pocket beneath the membrane.
5. Grafting Material Placement
   • This is the part where the real lift happens. At this stage, the space created in the previous step will be filled with bone grafting material. There are various bone grafting options, but you can rest, assured that your surgeon will pick the best one for you.
   • This grafting will become the frame on which the natural bone will grow over the coming months.
6. Closing the Site
   • When the grafting material has been placed inside the space, your gum tissue is repositioned and sutured. The new material will later go on to blend with your jawbone. 
   • The end result? Your bone height and density will become sufficient to support any type of dental implant you want.
7. Healing and Bone Regeneration
   • The healing phase after the procedure is complete can range from 4 to 12 months. During this time, you are supposed to avoid any activity that will put any pressure on the sinus area. This means you must try not to blow your nose or sneeze regularly until you’ve finished healing.

Sinus lift surgery is a safe and effective way for people with insufficient upper jaw bone to get dental implant placements. Although the idea of lifting the sinus may sound complex, advancements in health tech have made it a routine procedure with high success rates.

Though routine and highly successful, you still need the most experienced and skilled professionals to do it for you. What better option than DentSpa, a Turkey-based clinic awarded the Best Dental Clinic in Europe?

DentSpa is home to a team of PhD-holding dental specialists who have decades of experience between them. With their expertise and the highly advanced dental tech, these experts will provide you with comprehensive care. Their care starts from the moment you step into the office and begin consultation till you recover from the sinus lift procedure and get your dental implants.Are you ready to take the first step toward a complete and confident smile? Kick off your journey by scheduling an appointment with us today. You can check if you need a sinus lift for a dental implant, carry out the procedure, and even install the dental implant in our relaxing and comfortable dental clinic.