Why Is a Sinus Lift Done Before Dental Implants? A Guide for Oklahoma City Patients


Image
By Warwick Dental

Thinking about dental implants, but told there isn’t enough bone in the upper back jaw? You’re not alone. After upper molars are lost, the maxillary sinus can slowly expand (called “pneumatization”), and the bony ridge thins. That combination can leave too little bone to safely anchor an implant—especially in the posterior maxilla. A sinus lift creates the height and density your implant needs to last.

What does a sinus lift do

A sinus lift (sometimes called sinus augmentation) elevates the sinus floor and places bone graft material, so your implant dentist can place an implant of the right length and stability. Bone quality and quantity are key success factors, which is why your dental care team may recommend this procedure before implant surgery.

Why is it often needed before implants?

After an extraction has taken place, the bone will deteriorate; meanwhile, the sinus region begins to open up. The resulting state is a very thin wall between the sinus and mouth—maybe just a few millimeters—insufficient to support an implant in the long term. By rebuilding that base, a sinus lift allows your dentist enough vertical bone to place an implant with sufficient torque and stability. That base is linked with better outcomes.

How does this step guarantee long-term success?

Dental implants are one of the most predictable tooth restorations. In real-world general practice, clinical trials show implant survival of 95% for many years, and success depends upon the placement of the implant into adequate bone. If the top jaw is thin, a sinus lift lowers the chance of sinus complications and enables your implant to work as it should.

If you’ve been searching for sinus lift treatment in Oklahoma City, this is the step your dentist may recommend to make back-upper-jaw implants possible and secure.

What the procedure involves

Most patients undergo one of two techniques – lateral window or crestal (internal) approach, depending on how much bone height is needed. In both, your dentist carefully elevates the Schneiderian membrane (the sinus lining) and places a bone graft. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is the most common intraoperative issue; however, when repaired appropriately, studies show no significant difference in implant survival. 

Benefits you’ll likely notice

  • Space for an implant when the bone was too thin
  • A solid base that will resist normal chewing loads
  • A minimized risk of sinus complications during the time of implant placement

Where “sinus lift treatment” has a role in your plan

Your treatment comes in this sequence: evaluation and 3-D imaging → the sinus lift procedure → bone maturation healing time → implant placement → restoration. Each step is coordinated to cover up the graft and offer your implant the best conditions. That timing is part of the reason results are so consistent from practice to practice.

If you’ve been informed “there isn’t enough bone,” a sinus lift before implants is a well-tested technique to fill in what’s missing so you can move forward with confidence.

A sinus lift before implants isn’t “additional.” It’s the procedure that reconstructs bone height in the rear top jaw, so your implant will last. If an implant isn’t an option because of thin bone adjacent to the sinus, a careful augmentation plan can alter that discussion. Contact Warwick Dental in Oklahoma City to make an appointment today.

New Patients & Emergency Appointments Welcome!