Treaments and Services

• Treatment Methods
• Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning)
• Bruxism Treatments
• Scaling and Root Planning
• Bite Adjustment
• Osseous Surgery
• Gum Grafting
• Frenectomy
• Crown Lengthening
• Bone Grafting
• Guided Bone and Tissue Regeneration
• Sinus Augmentation
• Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery
• Oral Cancer Exam
• TMJ Dysfunction
• Tooth Extraction
• Microbial Testing
• Local Antibiotic Treatment
• Periodontal Maintenance & Support Therapy
• Dental Implants

Sinus Augmentation

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 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. Bone is required to provide support and stability for a successful implant. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants due to inadequate bone.

The Sinus Augmentation Procedure:

The key to a successful and long-lasting dental implant is the quality and quantity of jawbone to which the implant will be integrated. 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.

There is a solution and it’s called a sinus graft or sinus lift. In the most common sinus augmentation procedure, a small incision is made on the posterior region of the upper jaw to expose the jawbone. A small opening or window is made into the bone, and the membrane lining the sinus is gently pushed upward. The underlying space is filled with bone grafting material. Sometimes, synthetic materials that can imitate bone formation are used. After the bone is implanted, the wound is closed 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.