Do You Need bone added in the sinus when getting Dental Implants?
Sinus elevation or augmentation is a procedure to add bone in the upper back area. It is usually recommended by a dentist for the person with missing molars in the top jaw before dental implant procedures. When a patient has a jaw disorder or there’s not enough space for a dental implant, this surgical procedure is considered one of the remedies. Whatever the cause of your tooth loss, sinus elevation can make up for the bone loss in the jaw by increasing the amount of bone in the upper jaw (known as the maxilla). Not all dentists can perform sinus elevation. This must be done by a dentist that has the experience and training. If you’re within Texas and looking for a dentist in Houston to perform this type of surgery, find one that is qualified and suits your financing condition. You must look for a maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist. Our office will be happy to recommend the experts we know can provide you with the best results.
The bone graft material that is placed in the maxillary sinus may be made up of the patient’s own bone or specialized bone (synthetic bone for example). To know if you’re a candidate for this procedure, you need to have a Houston dentist examine you and determine if it’s possible to satisfy the requirements and if it’s the most beneficial for your situation. We can sometimes avoid this procedure and the cost involved.
The sinus elevation surgery should increase the bone amount in the maxilla so the dental implant can be placed in a stable position. When placed in the maxillary sinus, the bone graft should increase the height of the alveolus. The dentist will create a space where the bone formation will be placed and serve as base for the reconstructive procedure. The surgery usually lasts between two and four hours. Anesthesia can be local or general depending on the condition of the patient and extent of procedure or severity of the case. After the surgery, a weeklong rest period is recommended. No intense activities are allowed, especially sneezing or blowing the nose as it can affect the recently place graft material, loosen it for instance. The patient needs to schedule follow up visits to dentist in Houston to avoid infection. Antibiotics are usually prescribed and pain reliever, as needed. Oral hygiene must be strictly followed as well. An antimicrobial mouthwash may be recommended by the dentist too. Brushing your teeth after every meal must be done religiously too. The dentist will monitor the progress particularly if the bone graft is integrating well with the natural bone. The purpose of the surgery is to bring back the normal shape of the jaw so that dental implants can be done later on. There are cases where the grafting is not completed during the first operation. No need to worry because though it is not common, this is not unusual either. Depending on the rate of bone loss and the shape that needs to be restored, your dentist may even schedule the next operation after a month to see if the natural bone is responding well to the procedure. Infection is a main concern from start to finish so the dentist will look for signs and prescribe medicines or follow-up procedures accordingly. Some people have a misconception about sinus elevation. It must be emphasized that it is not the same as dental implant. Instead this is a procedure needed for those who need dental implants but due to bone loss or lack space for the implant, cannot be done successfully without reshaping first the maxilla or forming a base that is stable enough to hold crowns, bridges or other restorative work.