Sinus Augmentation

Also called sinus lift or sinus graft – raise the sinus floor and create new bone for stable dental implants.
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What is sinus augmentation?

The maxillary sinuses are air-filled spaces located behind your cheeks and above the upper back teeth. The roots of some upper teeth can extend close to or into the sinus area.

After an upper tooth is removed, the bone between the mouth and the sinus may be too thin to support a dental implant. A sinus augmentation, also called a sinus lift or sinus graft, can increase the amount of bone available for implant placement.

How Does a Sinus Augmentation Work?

During the procedure, your periodontist carefully accesses the area near the sinus and gently lifts the sinus membrane. Bone grafting material is then placed into the space to encourage new bone growth and create a stronger foundation for a future dental implant.

The area is closed with sutures and allowed to heal. Over the following months, the graft gradually integrates with the surrounding bone and develops into a stronger foundation for implant placement.

Depending on the amount of existing bone and your individual treatment plan, the sinus augmentation and implant placement may sometimes be completed at the same time. If additional healing is needed, the graft will be allowed to mature before the implant is placed.

Sinus augmentation has made dental implants possible for many patients who previously may not have had enough bone to support an implant. Your periodontist will evaluate your bone levels and discuss whether a sinus augmentation is appropriate for you.

Signs you may need treatment

Thin Sinus Wall

Bone Loss

Cannot Place Implants

Large / Low Sinuses

What to expect

1

Diagnose

The key to successful and long-lasting dental implant is quality and quantity of jaw bone. We check if bone loss has occurred, if sinus wall is too thin, and if enough bone is available between upper jaw ridge and bottom of sinus to stabilize implant. If not enough bone, augmentation must be done first.

2

Treat

In the most common procedure, a small incision is made on premolar or molar region to expose jaw bone. A small opening is cut into bone, and membrane lining sinus is pushed upward. Underlying space is filled with bone grafting material, either from your own body or from cadaver, or synthetic materials that imitate bone formation. After bone is implanted, incision is stitched up and healing begins. Most often performed in office with local anesthesia and perhaps sedation.

3

Restore

After several months of healing, bone becomes part of patient’s jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone. If enough bone is available, sinus augmentation and implant placement can sometimes be performed as single procedure. The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago only loose dentures were option.

Common questions

What is sinus augmentation?
It is also called sinus lift or sinus graft. It raises the sinus floor and allows new bone formation when bone loss has occurred due to injury or periodontal disease, so dental implants can be placed in upper jaw where sinus wall is too thin.
Because maxillary sinuses are air-filled spaces on top of upper teeth. When upper teeth are removed, only thin bone separates sinus and mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them. When sinus wall is very thin or sinuses are large/low, you need grafting to create enough bone for stable implants.
A small incision is made in premolar/molar region to expose jaw bone, a small opening is cut, sinus membrane is pushed upward, and space is filled with graft material (your own body, cadaver, or synthetic). Incision is stitched, and after several months graft matures into your jaw. Sometimes implant can be placed same day if enough bone exists.
After bone is implanted, healing process begins. After several months, bone becomes part of jaw. If not enough bone initially, graft must mature for several months depending on type of graft material used before implants can be placed. It makes implants possible long-term.
Yes, most often performed in office with local anesthesia and perhaps sedation. The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when previously only loose dentures were available. Quality and quantity of new bone provides strong foundation for implants.