If you want healthy and strong dental implants, you may need to go the extra mile. To get a healthy and full smile, you may have to consider getting sinus lift surgery.

This simple and common procedure will allow you to fully benefit from your dental implants, even after suffering a substantial bone loss. Here, you will learn everything you can expect from a sinus lift surgery.

What is the Procedure all About?

A sinus lift surgery is also referred to as sinus augmentation. This procedure makes it easier for dental implants to be placed.

Some patients suffer bone loss due to which they need dental implants, but they lack the necessary bone density to support them. To overcome this problem, sinus lift surgery is a must.

The procedure involves increasing bone in the upper jaw for the necessary dental implants. As frightening as the procedure may seem, it is one of the most common bone grafting procedures out there.

It is worth noting for patients who require full mouth reconstruction, a sinus lift surgery is one of many procedures carried out.

Who Needs a Sinus Lift Surgery?

Over the last two decades, dental implants have become easily available, which should explain why they are quite common in dental procedures.

With more and more people getting dental implants to replace their missing teeth, sinus lift surgery is becoming increasingly common.

If you are missing a jawbone and teeth in the back of your jaw, especially near your sinuses, then you will need sinus lift surgery.

There could be a loss of teeth and jawbone in the specified area due to medical conditions like cancer, periodontal disease, or even congenital disabilities. If your sinuses are dangerously close to your upper jaw, in that case, too, a sinus lift surgery is in order.

Before a Sinus Lift Procedure – What to Expect?

You would not be wrong to think a sinus lift surgery is a bone transplant because that is exactly what this procedure is.

Bone from one place of your mouth is used in your upper jaw. Before the surgery can take place, your specialist will determine where the bone will come from.

For the surgery, the following types of bones are used:

• Xenograft – Bones from a cow
• Allogenic Bone – Bone from a cadaver
• Synthetic Bone
• Autogenous Bone – Bone from your own body

After determining where the bone will come from, your specialist will extensively study your sinus and jaw. Measurements will be taken to evaluate your sinus and the height and width of your bone in its existing condition.

Once all this is done, the specialist will advise you when the right time would be to move forward with the procedure.

During a Sinus Lift Procedure – What to Expect?

The sinus lift procedure is pretty straightforward and safe. The procedure generally takes place at an oral surgeon’s or prosthodontist’s office.

The procedure can take anywhere between 90 to 120 minutes.

As for the procedure itself, here is how it works out:

1. The patient is sedated using general or local anesthesia, or even a combination of both. Nitrous oxide may be used, but that is quite rare.
2. The surgeon will cut the gum tissue where your back teeth are located for access to the jawbone.
3. The surgeon will cut a small hole in the bone, and from here, they will push the membrane of the sinuses upwards.
4. With the cut bone also being lifted with the sinuses, the cavity is filled with a bone graft.
5. Once the procedure is complete, the surgeon will use sutures to close the incision.

After a Sinus Lift Procedure – What to Expect?

After the patient awakens, they are free to go home. Patients may experience bleeding and swelling, and there will be a little discomfort.

To ensure the road to recovery is without hiccups, the bone graft needs to be kept in place. This means the patient will need to avoid sneezing or blowing their nose.

Upon returning home, the patient will need to use a saline spray to keep their nose moist. They will also need to follow a prescription for swelling, pain and to prevent an infection.

For the first day or two, the patient will need to remain in bed and apply ice before going on about their daily activities.

A week or so after the procedure, the patient will need to revisit their specialist. During this meeting, the specialist will analyze and evaluate the condition of the surgery location and may remove stitches that have not dissolved.

Patients may be asked to return more than once to ensure their road to recovery is on track.

It will take at least six months to recover from the procedure completely. The process may not be swift, but it will yield long-lasting results.

Depending on the case itself, the cost varies from $1,500 to $5,000. Complicated cases where extensive bone graft material is required will cost the most.

As for risks, the only risk is tearing or piercing of the membrane. In this case, it will need to be repaired before the surgery can continue. If the membrane tear is extensive, it will be given time to heal, and the procedure will take place later.

If you were not sure about getting a sinus lift surgery before, you now have answers to all your questions to determine what is right for you.

The good news is the procedure will not take a lot of time, and if you want to get a full smile, this is your best bet.

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