The road to robust and healthy dental implants is not always rosy. That’s why our dentist in Coral Springs performs several tests to examine and ascertain that you are eligible to get tooth implants.
Inasmuch as tooth implants are the crème de la crème in the tooth replacement world, there is immense preparation and consideration to ensure they succeed. Since implants are anchored in the jawbone, it’s almost obvious that your jaw has to be tip-top. But if there is an issue with the jawbone, our cosmetic dentist near you may recommend that you undergo a sinus lift.
But the question that might be running in your mind is, “What is a sinus lift?” Glad you asked! Let’s explore more about sinus lift surgery.
Fast Facts About Sinus Lift Surgery
Sinus lift surgery is a common procedure known by different terms such as sinus augmentation or sinus graft. You will only come across this term when you are about to get dental implants.
Dental implants are your best bet if you need to replace missing teeth. The caveat is that you need healthy bones to support them. If you don’t have enough healthy bone, our dentist may recommend you go for another option or undergo a sinus lift procedure.
The underlying bone (alveolar bone) begins to deteriorate whenever you lose a tooth or teeth. Our dentist performs the sinus lift to increase the bone in your upper jaw. The sinus lift is only done to increase the bulk of bone in the upper jaw where you have missing teeth. Usually, tooth loss in the upper jaw might cause the sinus to reach down and occupy the space your teeth occupied.
So, our dentist will lift the sinus and use bone grafts to build bone in the created space, increasing the bulk of bones to place the implant.
When Sinus Lift Surgery is Needed?
Undergoing a sinus lift is not a prerequisite to receiving tooth implants. Our dentist will only recommend it if there is significant bone loss at the back of your jaw, close to the sinuses.
Therefore, you might need sinus lift surgery if there is bone loss due to cancer, congenital disabilities, periodontal disease, or other medical issues. In some cases, our dentist may suggest that you receive the treatment if the sinuses are close to your upper jaw, thus decreasing the space the implant may need.
What Happens Before the Sinus Lift Procedure?
To bulk or build healthy bone, our dentist will use a sinus graft (a fancy word for a bone transplant). That means our dentist will take bone from one place and use it to bulk the bone in your upper jaw. The initial step is to ascertain where the bone will come from.
The graft will usually come from:
- Your body, which is also known as autogenous bone
- A cadaver which is known as an allogenic bone
- A cow or xenograft
- Synthetic bone-like material
Before getting the bone graft, our dentist will measure the height and width of your existing bone. After getting the measurements and determining where the bone graft will come from, our dentist in Coral Springs will proceed with the procedure.
What Happens During the Sinus Lift Procedure?
The sinus lift surgery can be summarized as follows:
- Our dentist will commence by administering local anesthesia to ensure that you don’t feel pain during the procedure
- The next thing will be to cut open the gum at the back of the mouth to access the jawbone
- After our dentist gains access to your jawbone, our dentist will cut a small circle in your jawbone to create space for the graft
- Our dentist will insert the graft in the sinus cavity to fill the space
- Lastly, the circle will be closed, and your jawbone will be given time to heal
What Happens After the Sinus Lift Procedure?
Our dentist will send you home to recuperate when the procedure is done successfully. You might experience some discomfort and bleeding.
You must care for your jaw properly to ensure the graft stays in place. Therefore, remember that actions such as sneezing, blowing your nose, etc., will cause the graft to move, and the stitches could become loose.
You might need to invest in a saline spray that will keep your nose moist, a pain killer, an antibiotic, and medication to prevent swelling and congestion. Moreover, you can get an antimicrobial wash to keep your mouth plaque-free.
Visit a Dentist Nearby
The sinus lift procedure is straightforward and painless. Remember, it is not a must that it is performed. You’d only know if you need the procedure by visiting us at Designer Smiles FL for an examination. You can contact us today to schedule an appointment for sinus lift surgery in Coral Springs, FL!