Sinus lifts are a surgical dentistry procedure dentists recommend if you desire dental implants in your upper jawbone to replace missing teeth but have insufficient jawbone because of deterioration after tooth loss. The process helps secure the implant in the jawbone. There are different techniques dental specialists use when performing sinus lift surgery. Would you please continue reading to learn more about this approach and how it helps secure your desired dental implants?

What Is a Sinus Lift?

Sinus lifts are a type of bone augmentation procedure helpful for strengthening the jaw beneath the sinus cavity. The location of the sinus cavity is just above your upper arch of teeth and behind the cheeks. Your natural teeth have roots extending into the sinus cavity. However, when you lose a tooth or jawbone begins resorption in the edentulous gap resulting in a thin strip of tissue remaining between the mouth and the sinus cavity.

The Sinus Lift Procedure

The sinus lift procedure helps correct inadequate upper jawbone by raising the floor of the sinus to strengthen the bone for implant placement. The dentist near you may use different techniques to perform the sinus lift. However, the basic steps of the procedure include the following:

  • You receive oral or intravenous anesthesia, and the dentist numbs the area with local anesthesia to keep you comfortable during the surgery.
  • Your dentist identifies and makes incisions in the posterior portion of the gum tissue to expose the bone.
  • Next, your surgeon cuts a tiny area of the bone, remaining cautious to avoid the sinus membranes. The surgeon lifts the cut portion of the bone to the sinus cavity to raise the sinus membrane.
  • After that, your surgeon will lift the cut portion of bone into the sinus cavity by raising the membrane.
  • Finally, your surgeon applies bone materials into the new lifted area. They may use synthetic bone material or bone taken from another part of your body. Sutures are applied to close the incisions to complete the sinus lift procedure.

After-Care Tips

You receive after-care instructions from the dental clinic in Robbinsville, NJ, to care for the minor discomfort you experience after the surgical process. Thankfully the pain does not extend beyond a few days allowing you to return to your regular activities as directed by the dental professional.

If you have undergone an uncomplicated sinus lift surgery, the following recovery instructions are provided by the dentist near you for quick recovery.

  • You must take any antibiotics if prescribed to prevent infections.
  • You must avoid vigorously blowing your nose or sneezing to prevent dislodging of blood clots.
  • You can take pain relievers to alleviate the discomfort.
  • You must refrain from smoking because the chemicals in tobacco can delay your recovery time.
  • Drinking liquids from a straw helps dislodge the blood clot preventing bleeding. Therefore do not use a straw for drinking and beverages.
  • Getting a sinus lift to have dental implants in your upper jawbone is when the dentist recommends not to brush your teeth for some time to safeguard the blood clots and prevent bleeding.

You can revisit your surgeon after about a week to assess your progress. If you experience worsening pain instead of improving or bleeding challenging to control, contact your surgeon as soon as possible.

Visit the Dentist near You

If you have lost teeth in the upper jawbone for some time and desire dental implants to replace them, you must visit the dentist near you at Mercer smiles to get yourself evaluated for receiving implant placements. If the dentist discovers jawbone resorption during the evaluation, they recommend a sinus lift procedure after discussing the process with you, including its costs.

The costs of sinus lift surgery depend on your unique requirements after considering the bone grafting materials required, the complexity of your surgery, your geographical location, the physician’s fees, and the facility’s charges. You can expect to pay around $ 1500-$ 5000. However, your surgeon reviews the total costs with you before the procedure.

Recovery from the sinus lift process requires between four months and 12 months for your jawbone to develop before going ahead with implant placements. However, after undergoing the sinus lift process, you don’t need the procedure again unless your surgeon perforates the Schneiderian membrane during your initial sinus lift and recommends allowing time for the membrane to recover before repeating the sinus lift process.

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