A sinus augmentation is a site development procedure that is a relatively common form of oral surgery. It is designed to increase the maxillary bone height so that reconstructive work, such as dental implants, can be performed.
The maxillary sinuses are located behind the cheekbones and run from under the eyes to the area just above the upper back teeth. It is very common that the upper back teeth roots will protrude into these sinus cavities. If removing the teeth is required, at times not enough supportive bone remains to anchor a dental implant.
Sinus augmentation (also referred to as sinus lift) is performed when the sinus floor is too close to the area where dental implants are to be placed. This procedure is performed to ensure a secure place for the implants while protecting the sinus. While this procedure is not uncommon, not all implant cases will require this treatment. Dr. Naghieh will thoroughly review and evaluate your case first with 3-D software and a dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography scan to determine if a sinus lift procedure best meets your needs.
Reasons for needing a sinus lift include:
- Long-term tooth loss in the back upper jaw
- Trauma
- Bone loss from Periodontal (gum) disease
- Damage to the bone from a previous surgical procedure
- Your maxillary sinus is simply just too close to (or too large for) the area where the implant needs to be placed