Do you need to have missing teeth replaced? Have you been told that you are not a good candidate for a dental implant procedure because you do not have enough bone to support the implants? This is a common thing that occurs, so do not feel out of place. In fact, many of the patients we see here at Access Dental Care are unable to head straight into the dental chair for a dental implant procedure.

Typically, when you do not have enough bone in your jaw, you need to have a procedure called a sinus lift performed. This type of a procedure is beneficial because it adds more bone to your jaw to jump start regeneration and it makes tooth replacement options possible. If you are interested in a sinus lift or dental implants, please contact Access Dental Care today.

Sinus Lift: What is It?

When you come in for a consultation at Access Dental Care, you may be told that you do not have enough bone to undergo a dental implant treatment. Dr. Song will discuss your options with you and will likely recommend that you have a sinus lift performed. While you may be upset about the news you received, sinus lifts are usually always a success and once healed, you will be able to have dental implants placed.

A sinus lift is a type of surgical procedure that involves adding additional bone to the top part of your jaw. A bone graft is the lower section. The reason behind the name is because bone is added between your jaw and sinuses. Since the bone cannot just be added into your jaw, your sinuses must be lifted a bit to make some additional room.

Dr. Song is experienced in this procedure and is able to provide you with information about how the procedure is performed and what you can expect on the day of your procedure. All sinus lifts are performed in our office, so we recommend that you call today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Song.

Is a Sinus Lift the Only Option?

Typically, yes, unless you want to have dentures. Many patients need to have a sinus lift performed because of the lack of bone in their jaw. If you plan to have dental implants, then there needs to be enough bone, so that the implants are secure in place.

Bone loss often occurs when gum disease has advanced enough, but it can also be caused by disease and trauma to the upper jaw. While you may be scared of a sinus lift, it is not a painful procedure and many patients have success with it.

What Are the Benefits?

There are many different reasons why you should have a sinus lift performed and a number of benefits that the procedure will provide to you. If you are looking for a tooth replacement option, a sinus lift may be the only way you can receive dental implants. Therefore, the benefit of the sinus lift is to improve your smile.

Dental implants will help give you a boost of confidence and you will no longer need to hide behind your hand when you are out in public. You will be able to freely smile and laugh without the worry of someone noticing your teeth.

Lastly, a sinus lift will prevent your teeth from shifting or a difference in your bite. When you are missing teeth, the bone loss will make your mouth feel different and you may have trouble when it comes to chewing.

What is the Procedure Like?

The sinus lift procedure is fairly simple and not one that you should be afraid of. It does take a trained dentist like Dr. Song to be able to properly complete the procedure.

When you come in for your sinus lift, Dr. Song will make a small incision on your gum, typically somewhere near your cheek on the upper portion of your jaw. Once the incision is made, Dr. Song will pull down your gums and remove them from your teeth.

After the jawbone is accessed, Dr. Song will evaluate where the empty pockets are and how he should move your sinuses to make room. Additional bone will be injected into the space with a needle. Once the bone has been placed, a protective lining will be placed on the area and your gums will be reattached.

Healing can take some time and you want to make sure you do not rush it. You will be asked to come back into our office for follow up visits to ensure that the bone is regenerating properly. If it is not, additional procedures may be required.

You’ll Need a Consultation

BEFORE you can have a sinus lift procedure done, you need to have a consultation with Dr. Song. At your consultation, Dr. Song will look over your teeth, gums, and take x-rays to see how much bone you actually have in your jaw.

Once it is determined that you are a good candidate, the procedure can be scheduled. One thing that you want to keep in mind is that you will need to have any oral issues corrected BEFORE the procedure. For example, if you have gum disease, it will need to be treated and completely gone before the sinus lift procedure will occur. The same goes for tooth decay and any other problems, as they may interfere with the results.

Are There Risks?

As with anything, there are always risks. The biggest risk is that bone regeneration will not occur and you will be left with the same amount of bone loss.

The next biggest risk is that you may experience complications with the procedure and an accidental tear or hole may be made in the sinus membrane. This can lead to complications and if it occurs, will need to be addressed.

Schedule an Appointment Now

If you are interested in having a sinus lift performed or you would like to discuss your tooth replacement options, contact Access Dental Care today.