Sinus Lift

A sinus lift, also known as sinus augmentation is a dental procedure which is designed to add bone to the upper jaw in the area around your molars and premolars. Bone is added to the section between your maxillary sinuses (located on either side of your nose) and your jaw in order to make it taller. To make enough room for the bone will often require your sinus membrane to be lifted. The procedure is usually performed when the area lacks sufficient bone for dental implants to be put in. This can occur for several reasons such as a loss of teeth in the upper jaw, certain types of gum disease, maxillary sinus being too near to the upper jaw or sinus growth due to age.

The bone used in the procedure can either come from your own body, which is known as autogenous bone or from a cadaver, which is known as allogeneic bone. In recent years, synthetic materials which are used to stimulate bone formation have become increasingly popular. If it is your own bone which will be used then this is usually taken from other sections of your mouth or different areas of your body, for example, the hip or tibia.

The Procedure

Before undergoing the procedure it's usual to have several X-rays taken so that your dentist can take a comprehensive look at the structure of your jaw and sinus area. You may also be required to undergo a CT (computed tomography) scan in order to precisely measure the width and height of your bone structure and examine the health of your sinus.

During the procedure your dentist will firstly cut the gum tissue located around your molars and premolars. Your dentist will then raise this tissue in order to expose the bone into which a small 'window' will be opened. The membrane which lines your sinus on the opposite side of this 'window' separates your jaw from your sinus and will need to be pushed away in order to make room for the bone-graft material. The materials will then be tightly packed into the space where the sinus was. Several factors will determine how much bone will be used for the graft but typically at least several millimeters of bone will need to be used. Once the bone is firmly in place your dentist will close the tissue using stitches. Typically the area is ready for implantation surgery within four to nine months after the operation but this can vary depending on which material was used in the graft.

Aftercare

Immediately following the treatment its usual to experience some swelling in the area and some bleeding can also occur from your nose or mouth. It's important that you don't sneeze or blow your nose as this may cause the stitches to loosen or the material used in the bone graft to move. Most dentists usually prescribe a saline spray which will keep the lining of your nose wet and you may also be given some medication to help prevent sneezing. If you have any allergies such as hay fever, it's important to schedule the operation in the seasons when they aren't active. It's also usual to be given pain medication along with an antimicrobial and antibiotic mouthwash which will help promote healing and protect against infection. The majority of patients only experience a small amount of pain and discomfort following the treatment.

After a week or so you'll need to have a follow up visit in order to get your sutures taken out and to monitor your healing. It's usual to have a number of follow up visits after this to make sure you're progressing normally and to check the healing process. Depending on which material is used for the graft the time it will take to integrate and harden within your jaw will vary. If your own material is used then it may be as little as six months however if synthetic or cadaverous materials are used you may have to wait up to a year. In recent years certain proteins known as growth factors have become popular in helping the new bone integrate and harden faster.

The Risks

Although most sinus lifts are performed safely, as with any surgical procedure there are some risks involved. The main problem which can occur with a sinus lift is the tearing or puncturing of the sinus membrane. If this happens during the procedure then your dentist will simply stitch the sinus or place a patch onto it. If the material used for the graft can't be contained then your dentist may have to stop the treatment and wait for the tear to heal before proceeding. In some rare cases your existing bone won't integrate properly with the material used in the graft and if this occurs, any implants placed in the area won't succeed as there won't be any live bone to attach them properly. Fortunately, if this occurs then the sinus lift procedure can simply be repeated. One of the other main risks which can occur is infections, luckily these are very uncommon during sinus lifts.