Why You May Need a Sinus Lift Before Implants and What That Entails

Once you’ve decided to have dental implants, you’re probably eager to get started as soon as possible. Understandably, you might feel frustrated or disappointed to learn that you need to have a sinus lift before you can move forward with your new implants. 

At Cannon Oral Surgery, we strive to ensure that our patients fully understand their treatment path as they move through the process. This helps you know what to expect and why certain steps need to happen in a specific order. If you’re thinking about having dental implants at our Chattanooga, Tennessee, office, you’ll want to understand the role that a sinus lift might play in that process. 

Dental implants require plenty of bone tissue

Dental implants consist of a crown, which replaces the visible portion of your missing tooth, and the post, which replaces the root of your missing tooth. Just like your natural teeth are anchored within your underlying bone, the post portion of your new implant will also be positioned directly within that bone tissue. 

Many people lack sufficient bone tissue to anchor a dental implant. This can happen because of advanced gum disease, bone resorption, or simply because some people are genetically predisposed to having less bone tissue than others. 

If you don’t have enough bone tissue to safely secure the post portion of dental implants, the procedure cannot move forward. 

A sinus lift can make dental implants possible for you

A sinus lift is a procedure that adds extra bone tissue to your upper or lower jaw. It can make dental implants possible for people who have insufficient tissue to hold implants in place. 

There are several ways to perform a sinus lift. There are also different ways to source the new bone that’s added to your jaw. In some cases, it’s possible to use some of your own bone tissue, harvested from another part of your body. 

Bone tissue can also be sourced from a human cadaver or from a cow. While the thought of these sources might make you feel uncomfortable, donor tissue goes through a process to ensure it is clean and safe for implantation in humans. 

Your sinus lift procedure is customized for your needs

Dr. Cannon has the skills and experience to craft a sinus lift procedure tailored to your specific needs. In most cases, the process involves creating an incision in your gum tissue before gently moving it away to create space to place the bone grafting material alongside your natural bone.  

He has to lift your sinus membrane to place the grafting material, which is why the procedure is called a sinus lift. Dr. Cannon then replaces the sinus membrane and closes the incision, which completes the procedure. 

You should expect some swelling, bleeding, and soreness for a few days after your sinus lift. But you might be surprised how quickly your gum tissue heals. Dr. Cannon provides detailed post-procedure care instructions. 

Adhering to this guidance is an important part of your recovery. Take any medications as prescribed and keep your mouth clean as you heal to reduce the risk of infection. 

You’ll return to the office for a follow-up visit to ensure your recovery is progressing as expected. After a period of 4-12 months, your natural bone tissue should have fully fused to the grafted material, and you can move forward with your dental implants. 

To learn more about the role that a sinus lift might play in your journey to dental implants, come in for a consultation. You can reach Cannon Oral Surgery by phone, or try our simple online booking tool to check appointment availability.