Sinus lift, sinus bone replacement
Meaning of sinus lift
The maxillary sinus is a cavity located in the upper jaw above the premolars and molars. This bony cavity is covered on the inside with a mucous membrane that can be compared to a balloon that expands against the cavity wall when inflated. Due to bone atrophy or rearrangement after tooth extraction, the height of the jawbone is usually not sufficient to insert a dental implant in this area, as there is not enough space for the screw.
Our goal during the operation of the dental bone replacement is to create bone volume of sufficient height and width, in which we can safely place a dental implant. One option for this is a sinus lifting. The intervention can also be performed under general anesthesia.
Types of sinus lift surgeries
At Helvetic Clinics, we use two different types of sinus lift procedures. These interventions are usually performed by an oral surgeon with expertise and specialization in oral surgery or a periodontologist. The surgical technique is performed in a sterile environment.
Closed sinus lift, internal or indirect sinus lift
Internal sinus lifting is performed in case of minor bone deficiency. When inserting the implant at the desired location (in the area of missing teeth), the base of the sinus is tapped using a special instrument, enabling tooth implantation. In this situation, the bone replacement intervention and tooth implantation occur together.
Open sinus lift, external or direct sinus lift
This type of operation is necessary if a larger volume of bone replacement is planned.
After local anaesthesia, a "bone window" is created on the upper jaw to enable the external sinus lift.
We then use a special tool to lift the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus and insert bone replacement material underneath.
This method provides more bone in addition to the existing bone volume, which is sufficient for dental implantation.
The initial bone volume depends on whether the operation is performed at the same time as the implant or as a stand-alone procedure.
You will not experience any pain during the entire procedure, as it is always performed under local anaesthesia, regardless of the type of procedure.
Preparation for sinus lift surgery
Certain steps must be taken before the procedure in order for it to be successful. Four months before the treatment, the surgical area is prepared by extracting the necessary teeth. The area in the chosen location is closed for the entire four months.
To ensure that the procedure is performed in a healthy environment, tartar (dental calculus) can be removed and cavities (caries) in the adjacent teeth can be treated before the procedure.
Things to do after a sinus lift
Sinus lift experiences and avoiding cooling-related issues
Painkillers can be used to mediate post-operative complications such as pain, edema, and sensitivity that may arise following sinus lift surgery. It's crucial to cool the area following a sinus lift in order to reduce swelling, and the easiest method to do this is with an ice pack.
After sinus lift surgery, it is crucial to avoid overcooling the affected area. Taking breaks without cooling is highly advised.
Medication, sutures, cleaning and recovery phase
After sinus surgery, antibiotics and painkillers must be taken on the surgeon's instructions.
As with wisdom teeth surgery, the stitches used to close the region must also be removed. After the stitches have been removed, the area can be cleaned, but we recommend using a toothbrush that is suitable for gentle surgical procedures.
The type of procedure determines how long you have to recover from a sinus lift. In the case of a closed sinus lift, the healing time depends on the implant used (3-5 months), but in the case of an open sinus lift, the healing phase is always 6 months.
Nose blowing, wearing dentures
After a sinus lift, you should not blow your nose, lift heavy objects or bend forward for two weeks. Avoid all physical activities that involve exertion or increase blood pressure in the nasal cavity. Avoid sneezing, if it is absolutely necessary, do it with your mouth open.
We would like to draw your attention to a few things if you wear dentures in the afflicted area. It is possible that the prosthesis will press on the implanted artificial roots, even if it was relined or adjusted following surgery. This could cause issues down the road. As a result, for the first month, refrain from wearing the denture while eating. Try not to wear it for too long and take it out at night.
After the sinus lift, we have to wait until the area has healed. Usually, the recovery time takes 6 months.
Sinus lift prices
The price of a sinus lift, depends on the type of procedure performed and the type and quantity of bone substitute material used. The price of a sinus lift can be found at the bottom of the page or on the dental prices page.
If in your case implantation is only possible after a sinus lift, call our clinic on 053 930 1323 for a surgical consultation!
FAQ - Sinus lift
Is a sinus lift a dangerous operation?
In a sinus lift, a vertical bone replacement is performed on the lateral part of the upper jaw, in which the height of the bone is increased by inserting a bone replacement material into the closed space under the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus. The aim is always to make it possible to place a dental implant even if there is insufficient anatomical bone. This is an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, which in most cases is hardly painful and rarely leads to complications.
Which bone replacement material is used in a sinus lift?
Nowadays, we generally use an immunologically completely neutral (xenograft) bone replacement material of animal origin, which is actually bone crisps. This creates the framework(scaffold) for the newly growing bone tissue that forms in the area of the sinus lift.
I have a sinus infection (sinusitis), can I still have a sinus lift?
The prerequisite for a sinus lift is a clean sinus cavity, as this is the only way to ensure complication-free healing. If you have sinusitis, we recommend that you consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) who will clean the area before the sinus lift.
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