Sinus Lift Procedure

Periodontal Disease and Bone Loss

If you have lost a tooth due to periodontal disease, you probably have significant bone loss.

That is because when you lose a tooth, the jawbone becomes smaller where the tooth was.

Lost bone does not grow back on its own, but we may be able to augment it with a sinus lift in the upper jaw.

This surgery may be necessary if you are preparing to have an implant and your periodontal disease significantly reduced the bone or if your sinus is very close to your upper jaw.

You should let us know if you have seasonal allergies. We want to schedule your sinus lift when your allergies are least active.

We begin with x-rays or send you for a CT scan to accurately measure the width of your bone and the position of your sinus.

Prior to your surgery, we prepare the grafting material taken from your own tissue or from another source.

Procedure

On the day of your surgery, we make sure the area is completely numb before we begin.

First, we make a small opening in your gums and create a space in the existing bone.

We then gently push the sinus up and away from your jaw. We place the grafting material in the space where your sinus was, and stitch the area closed.

Depending on the material, it should take between 6 and 12 months for the graft to fuse with your bone. Once the bony material has fused with your jaw, you will have enough bone to hold an implant.

Having a sinus lift helps increase the size and strength of your bone and puts you one step closer to a healthy, beautiful smile.