Improve Your Candidacy for Dental Implants with a Sinus Lift

A portion of the upper jaw, called the posterior maxilla, often needs to be strengthened before a dental implant can be placed. The procedure, known as a sinus lift, is commonly performed at the Queens dental practice of Dr. Clifford Degel and Dr. Carmen Every-Degel. When patients have suffered from tooth loss, having dental implants placed is the best restorative option available. In addition to restoring comfort, function, and aesthetics to your smile, implants also protect against future bone loss.

Combatting Bone Atrophy

After teeth are missing for an extended period of time, the surrounding jawbone begins to atrophy due to a lack of stimulation that occurs during chewing. Dental implants, tiny posts embedded in the jaw, replace the natural tooth roots and provide ongoing stimulation to the bone. If bone loss has already occurred, a bone grafting procedure may be required to build up enough dense bone tissue to support the dental implant. This can also be helpful for implants that will be placed in the back upper corners of the mouth.

Smiling middle-aged woman relaxing and leaning over side of couch with arms crossed

Sinus lifts can allow the right patients to receive dental implants, which are recognized as the very best restorative solution.

Understanding the Procedure

When you come in for your initial consultation at our office, one of our doctors will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and the structures of your mouth. We will take tomographic x-rays of your jaw so that we can plan your procedure with exact specifications. This will give us precise height and width measurements of your maxillary sinus, as well as allow us to rule out any disease or pathology.

A sinus lift can provide enough healthy tissue to support a dental implant.

The Day of the Surgery

On the day of your surgery, you will be sedated to ensure your comfort during the procedure. Your doctor will make a small incision in the gums to expose the upper jaw. The doctor will then create a small "window" in the bone to gain access to the maxillary sinus. Once the thin membrane that lines the cavity has been pulled back, bone graft material will be placed in the opening.

On the day of your surgery, you will be sedated to ensure your comfort during the procedure.

Bone grafting material can be composed of autogenous bone, meaning it is taken from a different area of your body. It can also be made of allogenic (donor tissue) or synthetic materials. After the graft is placed, the space will be filled with concentrated growth factors and autologous fibrin-rich blocks that will encourage new bone formation. This will result in a thicker sinus floor that is dense enough to support a dental implant.

Following Your Procedure

Following the procedure, you will need several months to heal and allow the bones to fuse before you can have dental implants placed. You will need to attend periodic follow-up appointments at our office to ensure that you are healing properly. Your doctor will monitor your progress and determine when you have the necessary bone density to schedule your implant surgery.

Contact Our Office

If you are interested in restoring your smile with dental implants and would like to learn more about sinus lift surgery, please contact our office online or call (718) 278-1123 to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.