Detailed Procedure Guide: Sinus Lift
A sinus lift or sinus graft is a surgical procedure where bone is added to your upper jaw in the space between your jaw and your sinuses on either side of your nose. As the name implies, the sinus membrane is moved upward, or “lifted.” This procedure is performed when you don’t have enough bone in your upper jaw to support dental implants in the molar regions, typically because you have experienced bone loss due to gum disease or lost teeth.
What is the process for a sinus lift?
Before sinus lift surgery your implant dentist will take x-rays and a CT scan to study your jaw and sinus cavity. Your surgeon will also need to decide where the bone used in the sinus graft will come from. Often it’s bone from your own body, but it may also come from a cadaver or cow.
As for the sinus graft procedure itself, your implant dentist will cut the gums to expose the bone underneath, then cut a small circle into the bone. The bone is then lifted into the sinus cavity and filled with bone graft before the incision is closed with sutures. Once the added bone has had time to mesh with your existing bone, dental implants can be placed, typically after at least four months of healing time. It is important to note that sinus lifts are some of the most delicate procedures to perform in implant dentistry.
How do you determine if you’re a good candidate for a sinus lift?
You may be a good candidate for a sinus lift if you cannot get dental implants because you don’t have enough bone in your upper jaw or your sinuses are too low to the existing bony ridge. If you don’t have sufficient bone quality and quantity for implants it’s probably because you experienced bone loss due to gum disease or you’ve lost one or more teeth in the back of your mouth.
Cost of a sinus lift
The cost of a sinus lift depends on a variety of factors, including your geographic location. According to Implant Evolution research, a sinus lift or sinus graft is likely to cost you between $1,500 and $2,500 per side (right or left), so if you need to lift both sides the procedure may cost up to $5,000.
You should ask your implant dentist if any of the following costs are additional:
- Initial oral evaluation/consultation
- Dental x rays
- Cone beam CT scan (CBCT)
- Anesthesia/sedation
Preoperative advice and tips
Prior to the procedure your implant dentist may prescribe specific medications; s/he may also ask you to stop taking certain medications.
Requirements typically include the following do’s and don’ts:
- Do brush your teeth prior to your appointment
- Do wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing
- Don’t drink alcohol for at least 24 hours prior to the procedure
- Don’t eat or drink anything prior to your appointment
It’s important that you follow all of your dentist’s preoperative instructions precisely because each directive is specifically designed to increase the chances of a successful procedure.
Bone density & preoperative scans
A sinus graft is necessary when you don’t have sufficient bone quantity in your upper jaw to get dental implants.
Proper diagnosis and pre-procedure planning are essential to a successful sinus graft. You can expect your dentist to take a detailed history, conduct an examination, and take x-rays and a CT scan.
Implant dentists now have amazingly advanced technologies available in the office that aid in diagnosis and planning, including cone beam or CBCT imaging. The 3-D images allow your implant dentist to study the anatomy of your jaw and sinuses and produce the best possible plan for your treatment.
Anesthesia: Are you sedated for a sinus lift?
For a sinus lift your implant dentist will use a local anesthetic that numbs the treatment area. Nitrous oxide sedation or intravenous sedation may also be used.
You should discuss sedation options with your implant dentist during the consultation phase.
Is a sinus lift a same day procedure?
A sinus lift or sinus graft typically takes between ninety minutes and two hours, but proper diagnosis and pre-procedure planning are essential to the success of this procedure. At a prior appointment your implant dentist will have taken a detailed history, conducted an examination, and have taken x-rays and a CT scan as part of this process.
Duration of the process for a sinus lift
The process of getting a sinus graft begins with a dental exam and evaluation, including the use of state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging tools. The surgery itself typically takes two hours or less, after which you will likely experience some mild discomfort, including some swelling and light bleeding.
You can expect to have a follow-up appointment with your implant dentist seven to ten days after the procedure to ensure the surgical site is healing properly, and perhaps another check-in or two after that to monitor the healing process. Typically it takes between four and six months for the new bone to fully integrate with the existing bone. At this point dental implants can be placed.
Proper upkeep and issues with recovery
If you get a sinus lift or sinus graft you’ll want to follow your dentist’s pre- and post-operative instructions precisely, to maximize the chance that your procedure is a success.
As with any surgical procedure, there is some risk involved, with the main risk being that a sinus membrane could be punctured or perforated. If this occurs, your implant dentist will either stitch the tear or place a patch over the tear. If repair is unsuccessful your dentist may need to wait until the puncture or tear has time to heal before resuming with sinus grafting procedures.
In rare instances, the grafted bone does not integrate with the existing bone, which may require the procedure to be repeated. Infection is also a risk, but infections from sinus grafts are rare and easily controlled with antibiotics..
Post-procedure tips and advice for proper healing after a sinus lift
Post-procedure care is imperative to successful healing after a sinus graft. Typically you will experience some minor pain, swelling and discomfort following the procedure, and your dentist will likely have you gently bite down on a gauze pad, which can be changed periodically in the hours after your surgery. The goal is for a blood clot to form—and remain—to stop the bleeding.
Your implant dentist may also give you one or more of the following:
- A saline spray to moisten the lining of your nose
- A prescription for a drug that helps prevent congestion and inflammation
- A prescription for pain medicine
- A prescription for an antibiotic
- An antibacterial mouth rinse
Typically implant dentists also advise that you:
- Avoid blowing your nose for at least 4 weeks following the procedure
- Avoid rinsing your mouth, except to use the antibacterial mouth rinse as directed
Also, if you have to sneeze, do it with your mouth open, as you want to limit the risk of the grafted material shifting.
Smoking is also strictly prohibited as smoking inhibits blood flow and interferes with the healing process.
You should contact your implant dentist immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms in the wake of the procedure:
- You develop a fever
- Swelling or pain increases any time after the first few days
- Bleeding continues after more than 24 hours
- Bleeding is bright red and continuous, as opposed to slow and a darker red color
- You think the grafted material might have been dislodged, perhaps after a sneeze