''Sinus lifting, a surgical procedure involving the raising of the maxillary sinus to create room for a new bone is the first step to having the healthy, strong dental implants that will leave you with stronger teeth and a beautiful smile.''
It’s a relatively common procedure that is ideal where a person desires dental implants but does not have enough jaw bones to accommodate the implant. Also known as a sinus graft or sinus augmentation, the sinus lifting can be performed by several experts; there are sinus lifting Turkey experts, sinus lifting professionals, oral surgeons, periodontists and so on.
Read on to find out the types of sinus lifting procedures, risks factors associated with the procedures as well as costs and answers to common questions.
Sinus Lifting: What is it all about?
Sinus augmentation also referred to as sinus lifting or graft is a procedure that makes it easy for dentists to place dental implants. Some patients who desire to have dental implants may not be able to do so because of bone loss.
They do not have enough bone structure to support dental implantation. Sinus augmentation provides the necessary support needed for dental implants by increasing the amount of bone in the upper jaw.
The procedure is common amongst dental implant patients and is one of the many surgeries done during a full mouth reconstruction.
Who requires sinus lifting?
Over the past two decades, dental implants have become more accessible, and as more people opt to replace a missing tooth, it become quite popular. People with missing teeth or missing jawbones in their jaws close to the sinus may need to undergo sinus graft surgery.
This lack of teeth and jawbone in the sinus area could result from several reasons including:
• Cancer
• Birth defects
• Periodontal disease
• Natural variations such as thin jawbone or large sinus cavities
• Thin jawbone resulting from tooth loss
• Other medical conditions
Dentists may also recommend a sinus graft if the patient has less than 4mm to 6mm of bone height at the back of the jaw, this is according to the Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation.
In addition, if the sinuses are close to the upper jaw and more space is required to place an implant, then sinus augmentation may be recommended.
Sinus Augmentation Preparation
A sinus augmentation is nothing but a bone transplant. It involves taking a bone from a place to fill up the upper jaw. Before commencing a sinus graft surgery, some steps will be taken. This include:
- During the first consultation, the patient and the sinus lifting expert will review the reason for the implant
- The doctor examines the patient’s gums, mouth, and teeth
- The patient undergoes imaging studies such as tomography scans or x-rays to determine the health of the jawbone as well as the health of other skull structures.
The bone typically used in sinus augmentation can be sourced from different places. Ideally, there are three common types of bones used in sinus lifting and they include:
- Allogenic bone (bone from cadaver
- Autogenic bone. This refers to bone taken from a part of the body or mouth
- This refers to bone taken from a cow
- Synthetic bone-like material
After identifying the ideal bone to use, the dental specialist or oral surgeon will carefully study the anatomy of the patient’s sinus and jaw.
The doctor then takes accurate measurements to determine the width and height of the patient’s bone and analyze the sinus. Once this is done, then the surgery can commence.
Sinus Lifting Procedure
There are various approaches to carrying out sinus lift surgery. The best approach however depends on the type of bone present in the patient’s jaw, the type of bone grafts the doctor will use, and also the potential dental placement approach that may be taken later on.
Generally, sinus lifting is a straightforward and safe surgery. It is typically done at the prosthodontist’s surgeon’s office and lasts between 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Some basic steps to sinus lifting include:
• The patient is given an intravenous or oral sedative. He may also use nitrous oxide, although this is a less common approach. The sedative is given to numb the area and make the patient comfortable during the procedure
• Next, the surgeon identifies and makes an incision on the gum tissue to the back teeth, exposing the jawbone
• With the jawbone exposed the gum tissue raised, the surgeon makes a small circular cut on the bone, while carefully avoiding the sinus membrane
• The surgeon then fills the hole of the newly lifted area with the predetermined bone grafting materials
• Upon completing the procedure, the surgeon closes the incision with sutures
After the procedure is done, your surgeon will then give you instructions to guide you in the healing process.
Recovering From Sinus Lifting Procedure
Sinus lifting procedure does not require being admitted. Patients are usually able to go home after waking from the anesthesia. You may experience a bit of bleeding and swelling after the procedure, but this is only negligible distress.
However, if all goes well, then the specialist will give recovery instructions such as:
- Avoid activities such as vigorously blowing your nose and sneezing if possible. These activities tend to cause the stitches to loosen or cause the bone-graft material to move.
- Take prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection
- Avoid brushing your teeth for a specific duration to prevent dislodging of clots or bleeding
- The doctor will also likely recommend a saline spray, this will keep your nose wet, a process that prevents swelling and congestion.
- Recommend pain relief medication to reduce pain and give more comfort
- In addition, the doctor will recommend an antimicrobial mouthwash to prevent infection.
- The doctor may ask you to lie in bed with an ice pack for a day or two before resuming normal activities.
- Refrain from smoking as this might delay the healing process
- Refrain from drinking a straw. Doing this can dislodge clots which stops bleeding
Typically, the dentist will ask you to come back for a check-up 7 to 10 days from the day of the surgery. Upon revisit, the surgeon will examine the mouth and remove any stitches that have dissolved by themselves.
The patient may also be required to revisit the dentist several times just to be sure the healing process is going well. Necessary x-rays will also be done.
In general, it takes about 6 months to fully recover from a sinus graft procedure. Although this may seem long, the time is needed for the sinus to heal properly and for the bone to become strong enough to support future dental implants.
Risk Factors
Like every surgical procedure, sinus lifting comes with some risks. The most common complication associated with a sinus graft is the perforation of the Schneiderian membrane.
The perforation of this membrane which lines the maxillary sinus cavity can expose the patient to sinus infection including chronic sinusitis.
If the membrane does perforate, the doctor will repair the membrane and continue the surgery, and when not possible will halt the surgery.
Alternatively, if the tear is large, the membrane is given some time to heal after which the surgery resumes.
There’s also the risk of sinus infection. This is a bigger risk. To prevent this, the surgeon will give you some medication.
You will also be asked to avoid sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose too heavily so as not to dislodge the stitches or move the bone grafting materials. Hence, we advise against getting a sinus graft during times when you are more allergic to colds.
Expectations
According to reports by the American Academy of Periodontology, it takes about 4 to 12 months for the jawbone to heal and develop after which you can place dental implants.
This is not always the case though as the doctor can decide to place the dental implant after the sinus augmentation.
If the surgery is done right, you need not have another surgery ever again. However, if there’s a perforation of the Schneiderian membrane during the surgery, then the membrane will need to heal before another procedure can be done
When to See Your Doctor?
If after the surgery you notice some unusual pattern, then you should see your doctor. This includes:
- Pain or swollen gum exceeding two to three days
- Steady or excess bleeding exceeding two to three days
- Signs of infection such as fever, swelling, or foul-swell pus from the surgical area
- Feelings of the bone graft moving out of its position or feelings of discomfort
- Visit your doctor if you have other concerns regarding the procedure or recovery.
Cost Of Getting Sinus Done
The cost of the procedure depends on several factors including:
- Fees of the hospital
- The complexity of the surgery
- Type of bone grafting material required
- The surgeon’s fees
- The geographical location of the hospital
Sinus Lifting: The Answer to Your Dental Prayer
Sinus lifting helps you enjoy the benefits of a strong, natural, and beautiful dentition even if you lack jawbones to support the process.
And although the procedure can seem like such a huge deal, it’s a worthy venture if you consider the many benefits that come with it. Besides, people who have previously undergone the procedure say it’s not as scary or dangerous.
Sinus lifting while being a relatively new procedure is quite effective. It’s the solution for patients who wish to have dental implants but have no means of support.
The outpatient procedure provides a sturdier anchor of bone for the implant, thereby increasing the chances of successful dental implantation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is sinus lifting?
Sinus lifting or augmentation is a bone grafting procedure done to prepare a part of the teeth in the upper jaw for a dental implant.
Sinuses are hollow channels located above the upper teeth and behind the cheek. Some teeth’ roots extend to these hollow spaces.
When the teeth are removed, there are sometimes only a fragile wall of bone separating the mouth and the sinus. This bone wall is insufficient to hold a dental implant should you desire one, thus necessitating the need for a dental implant.
There are different techniques used in maxillary sinus lifting and they include:
Internal Sinus Lifting
This is also known as a mini maxillary sinus lift. It involves the drilling of the bone thickness until it gets to the floor of the fractured maxillary sinus without fracturing or puncturing the membrane.
After this, an artificial bone is then inserted through the hole created. The procedure is only done when the maxillary sinus is not overly low. The lifting done usually does not exceed 1mm to 3mm.
External Sinus Lift
Also known as large sinus lift, the technique is done if the floor is very low and the bone resorption is large. It involves creating a bone window from the oral cavity of the patient after which the bone graft is inserted.
After this, the window is sealed using a resorbable membrane and then the flap is sutured.
The simultaneous insertion of the dental implants and the external sinus lift is recommended in cases where the remaining ridge has the required thickness and quality necessary for the primary stability of the dental implants (this is usually about 4mm to 5mm).
Where this is not the case, the procedure is done first and the dental implant is done four to eight months after.
There’s also direct and indirect sinus lift. The former refers to the direct imagination and manipulation of the Schneiderian membrane via a channel created lateral to the sinus. The latter on the other hand is a minimally invasive procedure where the manipulation and elevation of the sinus are done indirectly.
Do I need a sinus lift before i can get a dental implant?
A dental implant provides a great solution for persons who have suffered tooth loss. But for the dental implant to be successful and permanent, the jawbone needs to have strong support.
To ensure the implant has all the needed support, a dentist may suggest undergoing sinus lifting surgery. This involves lifting the sinuses and placing bone graft beneath the sinuses to keep them in place. After a while, the body absorbs the grafted material. This then provides the needed support to your upper jaw for a successful dental implant.
When is a sinus lift necessary?
Sinus lifting is not required for everyone. It’s only necessary for people who wish to have dental implants but do not have enough bones in their upper jaw to accommodate the procedure.
Without enough bone volume, the implant can penetrate the sinus and cause complications. Other reasons you might wish to undergo sinus lifting include:
- To correct naturally large sinuses
- To correct large sinuses owing to aging (older people tend to have larger sinuses)
- Damaged teeth resulting from periodontal disease
- Tooth loss which occurred long ago that the body has absorbed part of the jawbone and has made it thinner
How is a sinus lift performed?
The following are the steps taken by a dentist or oral surgeon during a sinus lifting procedure:
- The doctor makes an incision in the gum tissue of the upper jaw
- Next, he raises the gum tissue to expose the jaw bone found underneath
- The doctor makes a circular cut in the exposed bone
- The dentists then raise the bone portion, placing it in the maxillary sinus cavity
- The surgeon goes on to fill the bone window (or hole) with a predetermined bone graft material
- Finally, the dentist sutures the incision
- Healing starts thereafter
How long does a sinus lift last?
A sinus graft isn’t a time-consuming procedure. Generally, the oral surgery should take between 90 to 120 minutes.
How painful is a sinus lift ?
Overall, sinus lifting is not a painful procedure but rather an uncomfortable one. A patient is unlikely to feel the pain during the procedure as the dentist will provide anesthetics to numb the pain.
After the procedure, a patient is likely to feel sore and uncomfortable for a few hours or days. The dentist will also recommend pain killers, antibiotics, and mouthwash to help with the pain and prevent the onset of infection.
How long does it take to recover from a sinus lift?
It will take a minimum of six months to fully recover from a sinus lifting procedure. The sinuses would have been completely healed and the bone strong enough to support dental implants at this time. While the process may seem slow, the result is everlasting, thus, it’s worth the wait.
What happens after a sinus lift?
Most persons feel only a little discomfort after a sinus graft procedure. There might also be a bit of swelling. Also, patients might experience slight bleeding from the mouth and nose in the days following the surgery. Thus, doctors recommend you avoid sneezing and blowing your nose after the procedure, this will prevent the bone graft material from shifting.
Are sinus lifts common?
Sinus lift was not very popular before. But this is no longer the case. In the past 15 years, sinus grafts have become more popular as many people are now able to get dental implants to replace missing teeth.
In a study done by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, dental implant success rate of 95.2% was recorded after two years of evaluation. This success rate was a result of the sinus lifting done prior to the implantation.
What are the risks of a sinus augmentation procedure?
Sinus augmentation does come with some inherent risks. The most common ones are acute postoperative complications. This includes edema, pain, swelling, infection of the sinus, and the surgical site.
Patients can also suffer from sinusitis, bleeding, bone resorption, emphysema, nasal and oral ecchymosis, and hematoma (hemosinus).
Others include incisional breakdown, wound dehiscence, dislocation, loss of the graft, oroantral fistula, loss or relocation of the fixture, temporal or permanent palatal numbness, and BPPV.
Common symptoms of sinusitis include headache (migraine), foul odor, pressure due to changing head position, discomfort while running, nasal tenderness, and obstruction.
The typical symptoms of sinus infection include swelling, discharge of pus, facial pain as well as discharge from the nose.
What is used for bone grafting material?
Generally, the commonly used bone graft material for sinus lifting are xenograft, allograft, and autograft.
Of all three, the allograft is the most commonly used. It refers to bones from a human body. It is safe and is well received by the human body.
Autografts are bones taken from another part of the person undergoing the surgical procedure. The bone is often taken from other parts of the jaw or the hip.
Lastly, xenograft is a bone taken from an animal, usually a bovine or cow. Pig bone or porcine bone can also be used.
Does sinus lift change the facial expression of a person?
No, undergoing a sinus lift operation will not alter or change a person’s facial appearance. On the contrary, since sinus lift helps ensure the success of dental implantation, the procedure enhances facial appearance.
Does the sinus graft procedure affect breathing?
Sinus augmentation will not affect your breathing, or voice or cause you to have allergies. Since the procedure enables a person to replace their upper molar successfully, the procedure helps healthy, strong, and beautiful dentition.
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