Are you looking for Sinus Augmentation in San Jose, CA? Dr Rana Baroudi provides high quality dental care for her patients in San Jose, CA
The success of a dental implant is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper posterior jaw has traditionally been a difficult area to treat due to insufficient bone quantity and quality and the proximity to the maxillary sinus. Also, if a patient has lost bone in this area due to years of periodontal disease or previous tooth loss, there may be insufficient bone for implant placement.
Sinus lift surgery – also known as sinus augmentation – can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants. Several techniques can be used to raise the sinus and allow for new bone to form.
There are two common techniques for building bone in this area, the External Sinus Lift and the Internal Sinus Lift
In the External Sinus Lift, an incision is made in the gum to expose the bone. Then a small circle is cut into the bone. This bony piece is lifted into the sinus cavity, much like a trap door, and the space underneath is filled with bone graft material. The type of bone grafting material used will be discussed at your consultation appointment. This procedure results in regenerating the lost bone in the area. The incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on your individual needs, the bone usually will be allowed to develop for from four to 12 months before implants can be placed. After the implants are placed, an additional healing period is required. In some cases, however, the implant can be placed at the same time the sinus is augmented.
The Internal Sinus Lift, is the surgical intervention which consists of drilling the bone thickness up to the floor of the maxillary sinus which is accurately fractured, without breaking the membrane and the bone graft is inserted through the hole obtained. This procedure is done when the maxillary sinus is not very low and needs to be lifted with only 1-3 mm. Among the advantages of this type of sinus lift is that it is less traumatic for patients, the risks of vascular complications and the pre-prosthetic period are reduced. The disadvantage of this procedure is that the periodontist works without direct visibility and therefore the risk of rupture of the sinus membrane increases. To reduce this risk, the surgeon who performs this surgery must have rich experience in performing the procedure and use a kit of specialized tools.
Which sinus lift needs to be done is dependent on the patient’s specific case and will be based on the clinical exam and the Cone-beam 3D radiograph. Both sinus lift procedures have been shown to greatly increase the chances for successful implants that can last for years to come.
If you would like to learn more about bone grafting and dental implants, contact us today. We’d be happy to answer any questions and book an appointment.
