A sinus lift, sometimes called a sinus augmentation, is a treatment that may be needed to add bone to the upper jaw in the area of the back teeth (molars and premolars). The maxillary sinuses are located above the upper jawbone on either side of your nose. When a tooth has been lost from the upper jaw, there may not be sufficient bone structure in the sinus region to place a dental implant. Tooth loss also leads to bone loss because the bone begins to be resorbed once the teeth have been lost or removed. If the teeth have been missing for a longer period of time, or if bone loss has occurred because of periodontal disease, this may further contribute to lack of bone for implant placement.
To supplement the bone structure and allow for the successful placement of a dental implant, our dentist may recommend a sinus lift. During this procedure, Dr. Jessica Gorelik gently lifts the sinus membrane and pushes it up and away from the jaw. We then add bone grafting material in the area where the sinus was to add to the bone structure. We typically allow a healing period of 4-9 months after this procedure so the grafted material can mesh with the natural bone. The dental implant can then be placed to replace the missing tooth. For more information about getting a sinus lift in Fort Lee, New Jersey, we invite you to contact 201 Dental Care today at 201-944-1969.