Sinus Lift Procedure • Implant Dentistry

A Sinus Lift is surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area. The bone is added between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses, which are on either side of your nose. To make room for the bone, the sinus membrane must be lifted or moved upward. This procedure is done when there is not enough bone height in the upper jaw for dental implants to be places. A Sinus Lift will also be done in cases where the sinuses are too close to the jaw for dental implants to be places.

There are several other reasons why a Sinus Lift is needed:

• If you have lost teeth in your upper jaw and your jaw does not have enough bone to support dental implants.
• Bone loss caused due to periodontal (gum) disease.
• Tooth loss may lead to bone loss. The bone resorbs once teeth are gone, if you have been missing teeth for a long time there may not be enough bone left to place dental implants.
• The maxillary sinus may be too close to the upper jaw for dental implants to be placed. The shape and size of sinus varies from person to person. Age may cause sinus to get larger also.

Prior to the Sinus Lift Procedure, the doctor will require a cone-bean CT scan before your Sinus Lift so the doctor can study the jaw and sinus. The doctors of Coastal Jaw Surgery use cone-beam CT scan to accurately measure the height and width of of your existing bone.

After the Sinus Lift procedure there will be some swelling in the area. There may be some minor bleeding. Do not blow your nose or sneeze forcefully while healing. We will ask that you return to the office within 7 to 10 days to evaluate the surgical site and remove stiches if they do not dissolve on their own. After the Sinus Lift procedure it will take a few months for healing. Once healing is complete, dental implants may be placed four to nine months.

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