Dental implants are the name of the game when it comes to replacing missing teeth! These restorations are capable of restoring lost pearly whites from root to crown thanks to the unique, biocompatible posts that are placed directly into the jawbone. That said, in some cases, a patient might need to undergo what’s known as a sinus lift before they can be considered a good candidate for dental implant surgery. Continue reading to learn a little more about this process, why it’s sometimes needed, and what you can do to ensure your implants last for a lifetime!
What Is a Sinus Lift?
The sinus system has several parts, but it’s the maxillary sinuses that sit closest to our teeth. If you’ve ever gotten a toothache while having a bad cold or being very congested, that’s a result of the pressure that your inflamed sinuses are applying to the roots of your teeth.
A sinus lift is a surgical procedure that grafts bone to the upper jaw at the position of the molar and premolar teeth. The maxillary sinus membrane is lifted to make space for the additional bone tissue, which can come from a different part of the mouth or a donor source.
If a patient has insufficient bone density in their upper jaw, they might not be able to support dental implants without this type of bone graft. However, adding more bone tissue to fortify the jaw and allowing it to heal ensures that when it comes time to place the implant posts, they can fuse with the jaw and form a sturdy foundation for the future custom-made restoration.
Patients who’ve suffered previous jaw damage, either due to trauma, prolonged tooth loss, or some other oral issue like periodontitis or a cyst might require a sinus lift. Some patients are also born with naturally large sinus cavities or thinner jaw bones; they can benefit from this procedure.
How Can I Ensure the Success of My Dental Implants?
The secret to ensuring dental implant success is a simple one – take great care of your smile! One nice thing about dental implants is the fact that they don’t require any specialized maintenance, compared to traditional options like dentures. This means brushing and flossing should come easily; not to mention, by doing so regularly you will ward off issues that directly threaten your implants, such as gum disease. Aside from that, do your best to avoid bad oral habits such as smoking cigarettes or using tobacco products, using your teeth as tools, or grinding your teeth.
Your dental implants will restore your smile in terms of look, feel, and functionality; however, they rely greatly on the support provided by osseointegration. Without sufficient jawbone density, this cannot happen – but a sinus lift procedure can ensure it.
About the Practice
Our team here at Elite Oral Surgery Associates has proudly served the needs of patients in Worcester and the surrounding area for several years, offering a wide variety of oral surgical treatment options including full-service dental implant placement, as well preliminary procedures such as sinus lifts. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our team to set up an appointment, you can request more information online or call today for assistance. Telephone: (774) 220-7355.
