Sinus Augmentation

When placing dental implants in the back spaces of the upper jaw, we may run into some limitations. When the teeth are missing in these areas the bone begins to shrink. When this occurs, the sinus will expand to occupy the newly empty space. When this happens, there is an insufficient amount of bone to support a dental implant. To remedy this situation, the sinus has to be lifted so that the grafted bone can fuse with the natural bone.

Sinus Augmentation

There are a few types of sinus augmentations. These are:

  • Lateral Approach (Sinus Lift) – During this procedure, the boney wall of the sinus will be exposed in order to access the membrane. A window to the sinus will then be cut and the membrane will be gently lifted away. Once this is done, the bone graft material will be placed.
  • Crestal Approach (Sinus Tap) – This technique is less invasive and consists of lifting the sinus membrane by gently tapping the sinus floor and placing the bone graft material simultaneously. While this procedure is less invasive, the amount of augmentation is limited.
Sinus Augmentation

Reasons For Sinus Augmentation

Because dental implants need to fuse with the jawbone in order to successful, sinus augmentation is typically needed when a patient has an insufficient amount of bone. Below are a few reasons why you may need a sinus augmentation prior to implant surgery:

  • If your jawbone has been damaged by trauma
  • If a cyst or tumor has been removed from the area
  • If you have suffered bone loss due to periodontitis or tooth loss
  • If you have a naturally thin jawbone or a larger sinus cavity 

If you have questions or concerns about your sinus augmentation procedure, please feel free to contact Highlands Ranch Periodontics located here in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. It’s important to us that you feel comfortable with and confident about your procedure.

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