Maxillary sinus Lift

maxillary Sinus location:

The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks, and above the upper teeth. These sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth extend into the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed, there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the oral cavity. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to stabilize a dental implant without a bone grafting procedure.

The Maxillary Sinus Lift Procedure:

The key to a successful and long-lasting dental implant is the quality and quantity of the jawbone, to which the implant is attached. If bone loss has occurred due to trauma or periodontal disease, a maxillary sinus lift procedure can raise the sinus floor and provide new bone to help stabilize the dental implant.

In the most common maxillary sinus lift procedure, a small incision is made on the premolar or molar region to expose the jawbone. A small opening is cut into the bone, and the membrane lining the sinus is pushed upward. The underlying space is filled with human or synthetic bone grafting material. After the bone grafting material is implanted, the incision is closed and the healing process begins. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw, and the dental implant(s) can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone.

The maxillary sinus lift procedure makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants, when years ago there was no other fixed prosthetic option.