Sinus Lift

What is a Sinus Lift?

The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the upper teeth. These sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth extend up into the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.

The key to a successful and long-lasting dental implant is the quality and quantity of jawbone to which the implant will be attached. If bone loss has occurred due to injury or periodontal disease, a sinus augmentation can raise the sinus floor and allow for new bone formation. A sinus lift is one of the most common bone grafting procedures for patients with bone loss in the upper jaw. The procedure seeks to grow bone in the floor of the maxillary sinus above the bony ridge of the gum line that anchors the teeth in the upper jaw. This enables dental implants to be placed and secured in the new bone growth.

Am I a Candidate for a Sinus Lift Procedure?

A sinus lift may be necessary if you:

  • are missing more than one tooth in the back of your jaw
  • are missing a significant amount of bone in the back of your jaw
  • are missing teeth due to a birth defect or condition
  • are missing most of the maxillary teeth and require support for dental implants

How is this procedure Accomplished?

Most commonly, a small incision is made at the posterior portion of the upper jaw. A small window is created by the surgeon into the sinus cavity while paying meticulous attention to keeping the membrane which lines the sinus intact. This lining is then pushed upward to create a pocket which can receive bone grafting. Again, the graft materials used will be tailored specifically for your case by your surgeon. The site of surgery is stitched closed by the surgeon to complete the procedure. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in the newly formed sinus bone.

If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus is available to sufficiently stabilize the implant, sinus augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed first, then the graft will have to mature for up to several months, depending upon the type of graft material used. Once the graft has matured, the implants can be placed.

The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants that previously had no other option besides wearing loose dentures.

A sinus augmentation is generally performed at Drs. Harris, Ismail and Hyneman’s office, under IV sedation as well as local anesthesia.