The fear of the unknown is common, affecting a significant portion of the population. Other common fears, like the ocean or the dark, often stem from the fear of the unknown, as people are afraid of things they don’t understand. In a dental office, the term “sinus lift” sparks a heavy dose of fear for most patients. This scary-sounding procedure isn’t as routine as a filling or root canal, leaving patients unsure of what they’re in for. However, contrary to popular belief, a sinus lift doesn’t have to be scary! With the proper care and a better understanding of the procedure, patients like you can undergo a sinus lift with no trouble! To familiarize yourself with the procedure, we encourage you to trust the Center for Cosmetic Dentistry to break it down.
What Is a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift involves altering your upper jawbone, more than your sinus itself. The maxillary sinus membrane is located above your molars to help keep irritants out of your airway as you breathe. However, when replacing missing teeth with a dental implant, your membrane may get in the way.
These titanium screws are secured in your upper jaw and often require substantial bone to integrate properly. When your sinuses are too low (or you’ve lost a lot of upper bone), we may need to perform a sinus lift procedure to make room for your implant!
In general, there are two sinus lift methods that we may use depending on your needs.
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An indirect sinus lift (or sinus bump) involves creating an opening in your jaw where your future implant will be placed. Indirect sinus lift: When you’ve only lost a small amount of bone structure (likely due to tooth loss), we can use the indirect method. This procedure involves making an opening in your jaw where your future implant will be placed to access your sinus. Then, we use special tools to gently lift your membrane up and out of the way. Afterward, we typically fill the now-empty space with bone grafting material.
- Direct sinus lift: If you have lost significant bone mass, you may need a more direct approach. By creating a window (or opening) in your upper jawbone, we reveal your sinus. Then, we’ll gently lift the membrane and place bone grafting material.
Bone grafting is a restorative procedure that uses bone material (your own or donated) to promote bone growth! Over time, this material will regenerate lost bone, solidify in your jaw, and allow for secure implant placement.
When Is a Sinus Lift Necessary?
Not everyone replacing missing teeth with dental implants will require a sinus lift. In some cases, patients who replace a missing tooth immediately after losing it can skip the bone augmentation altogether, as they haven’t lost significant bone structure. However, the longer you wait to replace your teeth, the more bone you will lose.
After losing teeth, your jawbone gradually shrinks due to a lack of stimulation. Fortunately, dental implants replace this stimulation, but not without ample bone structure for support. Once you’ve lost enough bone, your sinus membrane may expand downwards into this now-empty space. In other cases, some patients are just born with larger sinuses or short upper jawbones that can’t support implants safely.
With a sinus lift and bone graft, we create more vertical bone space for your implants to secure.
Do Mini Implants Require a Sinus Lift?
At the Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, we also offer mini dental implants.
These titanium posts are much smaller than traditional dental implants, which are large and consist of multiple pieces. While traditional dental implants require ample bone structure, making patients undergo sinus lifts and bone grafts, mini implants may not require any additional procedures!
These small-diameter implants secure even in minimal bone, allowing many patients to skip the sinus lift. Additionally, even when they do require one, patients typically only need an indirect sinus lift (also known as a sinus bump), which is much less invasive. Thanks to its gentle process, a sinus bump heals faster than the direct method. With faster healing, patients can support a mini dental implant sooner!
Visit the Center for Cosmetic Dentistry in Cleveland, TN
If your sinus membrane is hindering your ability to secure dental implants, we may use a sinus lift to help create more vertical bone. But don’t worry! This procedure is relatively simple, especially when using a mini dental implant rather than a conventional implant. After gently lifting your membrane and regrowing your lost bone, we can place dental implants in your jaw to restore your smile.
Book a free consultation to learn if you’ll need a sinus bump before your mini implant procedure.
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