Sinus lifts take place in the rear of the mouth near the molars, as the upper jaw typically
doesn’t have as much bone as the lower jaw, and tooth loss is likely to increase the loss of bone in these areas.

If you’re missing a tooth and want to be considered for a dental implant, how can you know if you’ll need a sinus lift beforehand? Here are a few reasons why someone might need a sinus lift before dental implant treatment.

You’ve Been Missing Teeth for a While

People who have been missing teeth in their upper jaw are more likely to have lost bone over a period of time.

The roots of our teeth are constantly stimulating our jaw bone, allowing it to stay strong and healthy. For people who have missing teeth, the jaw bone is no longer being stimulated, and the body begins to reabsorb it as a result.

Once teeth are lost and alveolar bone—the bone that supports the teeth—is lost, it can’t be regenerated, although you can grow new bone with the application of dental implants [1]. However, in order for dental implants to be successfully placed, there must be enough bone in the jaw to support the implant initially.

You’ve Had Gum Disease

If you’ve had gum disease at some point in the past, especially if it was a more aggressive form, you may have sustained bone loss in your jaw. In addition, people who have advanced gum disease are more likely to lose teeth as a result.

While people who have active gum disease will need to receive treatment before they can qualify for dental implants, this doesn’t mean that gum disease hasn’t already impacted the bone in your jaw. Only your dentist can tell with x-rays what the state of your alveolar bone is.

Fortunately, sinus lifts can greatly increase the success of dental implants in patients with lacking jaw bone [2].

Your Maxillary Sinus Is Too Close to the Jaw

Everyone’s sinuses are shaped differently. If the size and shape of the maxillary sinus—the sinuses closest the nose—are too close to the upper jaw, you may not be able to get dental implants without a sinus lift, even if you do have enough bone in your jaw to support a dental implant.

Sinus lifts are often the best choice for people who aren’t able to get shorter dental implants [3]. Your dentist can let you know what your options are based on your exam and x-rays during your consultation for dental implants.

While dental implants are an excellent choice for missing teeth, without enough supporting bone, the implant is more likely to fail. Your dentist or oral surgeon will make the best recommendation for you to ensure your dental implant procedure is as successful as possible.

Ask your dentist if you’ll need a sinus lift before qualifying for dental implants during your next appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15850992
2. https://www.perio.org/consumer/sinus-augmentation
3. https://file.scirp.org/pdf/OJST_2016122916515007.pdf

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Restores Full Functionality

When you have missing teeth, food can become a problem. You may not be able to enjoy the foods you were once able to enjoy. Dental implants can restore full functionality of your mouth. They’re firmly implanted in your jaw bone with a titanium screw and finished with a crown on the end that perfectly matches your natural teeth. They’re so strong that they mimic your natural teeth when it comes to function, and no one will be able to tell the difference between your implant and your natural teeth.

Dental implants restore your smile and enable you to speak properly again. Our teeth help us to correctly pronounce words. If you’re missing a few teeth, you may have had trouble speaking like you used to. This can add to the embarrassment you feel about your smile. With dental implants, not only will your smile be restored, but your speech will as well!

Helps Retain Facial Appearance

When you’re missing some teeth, you risk losing bone in your jaw. Your jaw bone is constantly being stimulated by the roots of your teeth, therefore encouraging healthy, strong bone. When your teeth are missing, the bone is no longer being stimulated, and therefore doesn’t grow. Over time, your cheeks can begin to look hollow and your chin may even begin to tilt up.

When you have dental implants, the implant stimulates your jaw bone, which can actually encourage new growth as your body accepts the dental implant. Your face can retain its shape and fullness well into old age. You need adequate jaw bone to be a candidate for dental implants, so the sooner you seek treatment, the better!

Fast and Easy Tooth Replacement

Dental implants are a simple, safe procedure that has an extremely low risk of rejection or infection. Your dentist can determine if you’re a candidate for dental implants with an oral exam and x-rays. Patients should be in good health and have enough bone in their jaw to receive dental implants. Your oral surgeon will place the implant in your jaw during a procedure. After your implant heals, you’ll receive a custom dental crown on the end. You’re done!

Dental implants can change your life. You’ll never have to worry about a partial denture falling out, getting food stuck in the spaces between your teeth, or watching your facial structure change over time. Dental implants can give you the confidence to smile again and enjoy the things you used to enjoy without worrying about your smile. Ask your dentist if you’re a candidate for dental implants today!

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If you have missing teeth and are considering dental implants to replace them, your dentist may tell you that you do not have enough bone to support a dental implant or multiple implants and that you need a sinus lift.  This may be the case especially if you have been missing teeth for an extended period of time.  Over time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often results in a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In the past, the patient would not be considered a candidate for placement of dental implants.  But modern dentistry has changed all that.  Now, we have the ability to grow bone where needed, providing opportunity to place implants of proper length and width to restore functionality and aesthetic appearance.

Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When upper teeth are missing, there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the upper teeth. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.  Sinuses are like empty rooms that have nothing in them.

Sinus bone grafts replace bone in the posterior upper jaw.  During the procedure, the dentist enters the sinus from the area of the missing teeth. The sinus membrane is then lifted upward and donor bone is inserted into the floor of the sinus, which is also the roof of the upper jaw. The integrity of the sinus membrane lining is not violated during the procedure.  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 there is enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus to stabilize the implant well, sinus augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If there is not enough bone (less than five millimeters or soft bone in the area), it is difficult to stabilize the implants and ensure their stability during the period required for graft consolidation.  In such instances, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed, the graft will have to mature for several months, depending upon the type of graft material used. Once the graft has matured, implants can be placed.

If your dentist has recommended sinus grafting or a sinus lift, know that these procedures can be performed very comfortably in an outpatient setting with either local anesthesia or sedation.  In addition, you need not fear that this will have an adverse effect on your sinuses or produce chronic sinus pain.

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