Sinus Lift + Bone Graft + Membran

Sinus lift is a surgery that is used to build up bone tissue to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and pre-molars, so you could get dental implants.

Sinuses are air spaces behind the cheekbones, on the both sides of your nose. Sometimes there are not enough space between jawbone and sinus cavity, and this gives dentist trouble while performing an implant surgery. In such cases, to make room for the bone, and improve the quality & density of the bone, the sinus membran will be moved upward. During this surgery Bone Graft and Membran could also be used to support the treatment.

Why do I need a Sinus Lift?

A sinus lift is done when there is not enough bone height in the upper jaw, or the sinuses are too close to the jaw, for dental implants to be placed. There are many reasons for people to need this type of treatment:

• People who have lost teeth in their upper jaw — Especially the back teeth, or molars — do not have enough remaining bone for implants to be placed in the existing jaw. Because of the anatomy of the skull, the back of the upper jaw has less bone than the lower jaw.
• Bone may have been lost because of periodontal (gum) disease.
• Tooth loss may have caused there to be a loss of bone as well. Once teeth are no longer present, bone begins to be resorbed. If teeth have been missing for a long period of time, there may be not enough bone left for implants to be an option for treatment.
• Tooth loss may have led to a loss of bone as well. Once teeth are gone, bone begins to be resorbed (absorbed back into the body). If teeth have been missing for a long time, there often is not enough bone left to place implants.
• The maxillary sinus could be too close to the upper jaw for implants an option for treatment. The shape and the size of this sinus can vary from person to person. The sinus also can get larger as you age.

Sinus lifts have become common during the last 15 years as more people get dental implants to replace missing teeth.

There are 2 methods for sinus lift.

1) Open Sinus Lift Surgery : This surgery is performed under local anestesia. Open sinus lift surgery is performed by cutting on the gingiva around the sinus cavity, opening a small window on the bone, pushing up the sinus membran gently from the bone. If necessary artificial membran could be placed. The place dentist open by pushing up the sinus membran will be packed with bone graft material, close up the whole layers and put stitches.

After this procedure , you may have swelling under the eyes, in the chin or neck area. As well as bleeding in the mouth and nose and maybe large bruises.

After open sinus surgery you need to wait 4-6 months for a proper healing. Your dentist will inform you for the time when you could get your implants installed.

2) Closed Sinus Lift Operation : This technic is less traumatic. It is still performed under local anesthesia . All the work in this technic is done through the hole that is intended for installation of the implant. There are special instruments which goes into this hole to make some opening between the jaw bone and sinus cavity by pushing it up and away. Then again if extra membran is necessary, it will be placed and the whole gap will be filled with bone grafting material and then dental implant will be placed before closing up. This technic seems easier but because the surgeon is working in a limited vision area, it has a higher risk of tearing the sinus membran. So you should be picky when choosing your surgeon.

When should an open sinus lifting surgery be performed and when closed one?

The patients who had no bone tissue left , must go with open sinus lifting surgery. And those who has 3-4 mm of bone they could choose to get closed sinus lifting surgery.

After examining your x-ray or CT, our dentists will advise you on the method that you should go with.

*** If you are having seasonal allergies , please schedule your surgery appointment accordingly for a time that your allergies are not active.

After Surgery

• No food for the next 2 hours after the surgery
• Don’t use straw when drinking
• No spicy, hard and hot foods & drinks
• Rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash after each meal
• You must not blow your nose and avoid from forceful sneezes.
• No smoking
• No diving, swimming, flying, if possible.
• Avoid overheating and hypothermia
• You will be prescribed antibiotics and painkillers, please take your medicines on time.
• If the stitches are not self-resolved , you should see your dentist in 7-10 days to remove them.
• If you have removable dentures, try not to use them for the first 2 weeks after surgery.