What is a sinus lift?
Sinus lift surgery often forms part of dental implant treatment. It involves lifting the sinus membrane to expose the sinus cavity below and filling the void with a bone graft. The bone graft material increases the amount of bone available to place the implants and comes from another area of your body or a donor.
A sinus lift can make dental implant treatment possible, even when you don't have enough bone to start with. Speak with the team at Illinois Dental Center of Belmont today to see if you're a suitable candidate.
Who is a good candidate for a sinus lift?
Once you lose a tooth, the jawbone that held it in place absorbs back into the body and loses density, leaving insufficient bone to secure an implant. A sinus lift uses a bone graft to create more bone to stabilize the area. But dental implant restoration isn't the only reason people have sinus lifts. Other reasons include:
- Reducing the size of the sinus cavity
- Bone structure reparation following facial trauma or injury
- Restoring bone loss from gum disease
- Improving bone deficiency
The team at Illinois Dental Center of Belmont has training in innovative sinus lift techniques, like bone grafts and ridge splitting procedures.
What happens during sinus lift surgery?
Your dentist makes an incision to expose the bone before cutting a small circle into it. They "lift" the piece of bone up into the sinus cavity and fill the space beneath with bone graft material, then stitch up the incision.
The procedure takes 4-12 months for the bone to fuse. Once it has, you can have implant surgery.
What is the recovery process following a sinus lift?
It's normal to feel small granules in your mouth in the days following your procedure. They come from the bone graft, but you don't want to dislodge too much, or the surgery may prove unsuccessful. Practice excellent oral care by following these guidelines:
- Rinse your mouth gently
- Take antibiotics to prevent infection
- Don't spit for 48 hours
- Avoid blowing your nose for 4-6 weeks
- Don't smoke
Above all, leave your wound and stitches alone — don't apply pressure with your tongue, and don’t touch it.
Partner with the team at Illinois Dental Center of Belmont and show off a new smile. Find out more by calling the practice or booking an appointment online today.
