Sinus Augmentation

Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace bone in the posterior upper jaw. The maxillary sinuses are located above the roots of the upper teeth. 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 for anchorage to provide stability. Therefore, if the sinus is located in the area of the future implant site, one or two types of sinus lift procedures will be necessary.

Inferior sinus lift procedure

If enough bone is present between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus to stabilize the implant, sinus augmentation and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure called an inferior sinus lift.

Before Inferior Sinus Lift	After Inferior Sinus Lift

Lateral sinus lift procedure

If there is not enough bone available, a lateral sinus augmentation will have to be performed first and the graft will have to mature for several months, The periodontist obtains access to the sinus from where the upper teeth used to be and lifts the sinus membrane upward. Donor bone is placed in the space created by the sinus membrane lift, and after several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone. During the healing phase, you should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a relatively normal diet during this time. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily life.

The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago there was no other option other than wearing loose dentures.