Sinus Lift in Spain

Recommended For Sinus Lift

Patients with the following problems can benefit from a sinus lift procedure:

• Patients who need multiple implants in their upper jaws
• Patients who are missing teeth due to genetics or birth defects
• Patients suffering from bone loss in the posterior maxilla
• Patients with one or more missing teeth in their posterior maxilla due to any reason

Most patients with a lowered sinus can benefit from this procedure. The lowering of the sinus is most often caused by:

• Periodontal disease
• Tooth loss
• Trauma in the jaw region

Not Recommended For Sinus Lift

A sinus lift procedure is not recommended for the following categories of patients:

• Patients who use tobacco excessively
• Patients with severe allergic rhinitis
• Chronic topical steroid use
• Patients with tumors in the sinus
• Patients suffering from a sinus infection
• Radiation therapy can have a negative effect on the sinus lift procedure. Patients undergoing radiation therapy should postpone the sinus lift procedure until the body has fully healed

Duration Of Operation

90 to 120 minutes

Overview

Sinus augmentation, also known as sinus lift surgery is a dentistry procedure used to increase the bone density and amount of bone in the posterior maxilla, commonly called the upper jaw. In order to make room for new bone growth, the maxillary sinus needs to be lifted – this is where the procedure gets its name – sinus lift surgery. 

When patients lose bone height and width in their upper jaw, this procedure becomes a necessity. Most patients usually suffer bone loss in this area due to losing a tooth or teeth. The most common reasons for tooth loss are:

• Tooth decay
• Trauma in the teeth or jaw area
• Periodontal disease

 

The loss of bone volume makes it impossible to perform a dental implant in the area, as dental implants require a stable and strong bone foundation in order to cope with daily pressure from chewing. 

Preparation

Patients need to undergo several testing phases before the sinus lift surgery can be performed. The role of these tests is to determine the health of the patient's sinuses. Most of the time, these tests include x-rays of the sinuses and upper jaws before leaving for treatment. CT scans can also be recommended by doctors in order to get a better understanding of the sinus's height and width.

How It Is Performed

The procedure begins with the dental surgeon administering the patient a local anesthetic. Once the anesthetic kicks in, an incision is created into the upper gum tissue, right beneath the sinus area. The gum tissue is raised, and the upper jaw bone is exposed. The dental surgeon then creates a small window right into the bone, exposing the sinus' membrane. The sinus' membrane is pushed up, with bone graft material tightly packed into the newly created space.  

Sinus lift surgery can use different types of bone graft materials, including:

• Biomaterials
• Autogenous bone - a bone graft from the patient
• A combination of both

Once the bone graft material is introduced into the cavity, the dental surgeon will close the incision with stitches. Over time, the new bone graft material will begin merging with the patient's natural bone tissue.

Recovery

For most patients, the average sinus lift recovery experience involves dealing with swelling in the gum tissue around the incision area. Bleeding from the mouth or nose is also common during the first few weeks after the procedure. Blowing your nose or sneezing needs to be avoided as the stitches can get loose, and the bone graft material can move inside the sinus cavity.

Most patients use antibacterial mouthwashes, antibiotics, and painkillers during the recovery period.

Risks

Sinus lift complications can include one or more of the following:

● Torn or punctured sinus membrane 
● Infection 
● Sinusitis 
● Tissue or nerve damage 
● Graft failure 
● Hematoma 
● Revision surgery 

Side Effects

Sinus lift surgery side effects include: 

● Bleeding 
● Pain 
● Discomfort 
● Swelling 
● Inflammation 

Success Rates

Surgery reviews set the average sinus lift success rate at around 90%.

Before And After

After performing the sinus lift for a dental implant, the body needs time to heal properly. After five to nine months pass, the implants can be placed in the jaw. 

In some cases, the dental implant procedure and sinus lift procedure may be performed simultaneously, but it depends on the patient’s existing bone structure. 

Faq

– What happens if my sinus membrane gets torn during the sinus lift surgery? 
The surgeon will first stitch it or place a patch over it. If that doesn’t work, the procedure is postponed until the membrane heals itself. 

– What happens if the graft material doesn’t integrate with my bone after the sinus lift? 
In this case, the sinus lift surgery may need to be repeated. 

– Is sinus lift surgery safe? 
Definitely – sinus augmentation is a safe and reliable procedure. Less than 10% of patients develop complications following this procedure. Following the surgeon’s instructions and taking any medications as prescribed is essential for the success of this procedure.

– How long does sinus lift take to heal?

The body will fully heal in around 5 to 9 months after the procedure is done.

Extra Content

This content is written and reviewed by our medical content team in August, 2019.