What is Sinus Grafting Surgery?
Sinus grafting surgery, also known as a sinus lift, is a procedure to add bone to the upper jaw in the area of the molars and premolars. This surgery is typically needed when there isn’t enough bone in the upper jaw to support dental implants due to factors such as tooth loss, periodontal disease, or natural bone resorption.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Here are some key points to consider when assessing whether you’re a good candidate for sinus grafting surgery:
- Lack of Upper Jaw Bone: If you’ve lost bone in your upper jaw due to tooth loss or gum disease and do not have enough bone to support dental implants, sinus grafting might be suitable.
- Healthy Sinuses: Your sinus health will be assessed. If you have chronic sinus issues or infections, it may impact the surgery’s success.
- Good Oral Health: Having healthy gums and no untreated periodontal disease is important for a successful procedure.
- No Significant Health Issues: You should be in overall good health without conditions that impair healing, like uncontrolled diabetes or certain autoimmune diseases.
- Non-Smoker or Willing to Quit: Smoking can delay healing and affect the success of the graft and implants, so non-smokers or those willing to quit during recovery are ideal candidates.
- Willingness to Follow Aftercare Instructions: Following post-surgical care guidelines is crucial for successful healing and implant placement.
- Adequate Healing Time: Candidates should be prepared for a potentially extended healing period (4-9 months) before receiving implants.
Benefits:
Here are the key benefits of sinus grafting surgery:
- Enables Dental Implants: Sinus grafting creates the necessary bone structure in the upper jaw, making it possible to support dental implants where there is insufficient bone.
- Restores Jawbone Density: The surgery regenerates lost bone, enhancing the strength and density of the upper jaw, which can deteriorate due to tooth loss or periodontal disease.
- Improves Oral Function: By enabling implant placement, it helps restore chewing, speaking, and overall dental function, improving quality of life.
- Prevents Further Bone Loss: The procedure can slow or prevent further bone resorption in the jaw by restoring structural integrity.
- Enhances Facial Aesthetics: Supporting dental implants can prevent facial sagging and maintain a more youthful appearance by preserving the natural shape of the face.
- Long-Term Solution: Sinus grafting and subsequent dental implants offer a durable, long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth compared to traditional dentures.
- Supports Overall Oral Health: It can improve the health of surrounding teeth and gums by providing stable and functional replacements for missing teeth.
More Details:
Lost bone in the upper jaw may exist due to several reasons such as periodontal disease or tooth loss. Sinus lift surgery can correct this problem by developing bone for the placement of dental implants.
Several techniques can be used which, in most cases, involve bone graft material. The bone will usually be allowed to develop for about 4 to 9 months before implants are placed. After the implants are placed, an additional healing period is required. In some cases, the implant can be placed at the time of sinus surgery. Restoring the implant and placing the dental prosthetic is done when healing is complete.
Our periodontist, Prof. Nada Naaman will discuss with you the different options for graft materials and surgical techniques in order to regenerate lost bone and tissue.