Sinus Bone Grafting

What is a sinus bone graft?

A sinus bone graft, also called sinus augmentation or a sinus lift, is a procedure used to build up the bone around your facial (maxillary) sinuses. This procedure is necessary when you have inadequate bone tissue in areas where you need dental implants. 

You may have inadequate bone tissue due to bone loss or bone deterioration as a result of tooth decay, periodontal disease, abscess, or infection. 

Why do I need a sinus bone graft?

You have sinuses, or air-filled spaces, in several of your facial bones. The maxillary sinuses sit immediately above your upper jawline. Often, roots from your back upper teeth extend into these sinuses. 

When you have a missing tooth and need a dental implant, the bone around your implant must be strong enough to hold it. If it’s not, a sinus bone graft adds density, volume, and strength to the bone. 

What does a sinus bone graft entail?

The team at Ueno Center Dental Specialists uses the most up-to-date information, technology, and techniques when performing your sinus bone graft. These advances allow for shorter surgical times, less invasive techniques, improved outcomes, and faster recovery.

The process itself involves several steps, including:

• Making an incision in the gums and soft tissue to access the underlying bone
• Making small holes in the inadequate bone tissue
• Raising the membrane that lines the sinus
• Injecting donor bone tissue into the sinus and surrounding bone
• Replacing and securing the gum and soft tissues
• Healing of tissues and integration of new bone material

During the healing process, the new bone material solidifies and becomes part of the sinus and jawbone. This strengthens the bone, providing a solid foundation for your dental implant. Your provider may recommend using platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) during your surgery, accelerating healing, and aiding in faster recovery.

In some cases, your provider may place your dental implant at the same time as your sinus bone graft. In other cases, your bone graft needs to heal for several months before you get your new implant. In general, most sinus bone grafts need 3-6 months to heal completely.

To see how a sinus bone graft can help you, call the office or request an appointment online today.

What is a Sinus?

The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the upper teeth. These sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces. Some of the roots of the natural upper posterior teeth extend up 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 mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone and additional bone grafting is necessary.

The Sinus Augmentation Procedure:

The key to a successful and long-lasting dental implant is the quality and quantity of jaw bone to which the implant will be attached. If bone loss has occurred due to injury or periodontal disease, a sinus augmentation can raise the sinus floor and allow for new bone formation. With new advances in sinus surgery, post-operative discomfort and surgical time have decreased. We use both piezo technology and neurosurgical burs for less invasive surgery and more predictable outcomes.

In the most common sinus augmentation procedure, a small incision is made on the premolar or molar region to expose the jaw bone. A small opening is cut into the bone, and the membrane lining the sinus is pushed upward. The underlying space is filled with bone grafting material, either from your own body or from a cadaver. Sometimes, synthetic materials that can imitate bone formation are used. After the bone is implanted, the incision is stitched up and the healing process begins. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient's jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone.

If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus is available to stabilize the implant well, sinus augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed first, then the graft will have to mature for several months, depending upon the type of graft material used. Once the graft has matured, the implants can be placed.

The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago there was no other option besides wearing loose dentures.