WHAT IS A SINUS LIFT / SINUS AUGMENTATION?

The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and above the upper teeth. These sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth extend up into the sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.

The key to a successful and long-lasting dental implant is the quality and quantity of jaw bone to which the implant will be attached. If bone loss has occurred due to injury or periodontal disease, a sinus augmentation can raise the sinus floor and allow for new bone formation. A sinus lift is one of the most common bone grafting procedures for patients with bone loss in the upper jaw. The procedure seeks to grow bone in the floor of the maxillary sinus, which enables dental implants to be placed and secured in the new bone growth.