Sinus Lift Washington DC & Alexandria VA
Sinus Lift
Washington DC & Alexandria VA
When a patient’s maxillary sinuses are too close to their jawbone, it may not be possible to place dental implants. In these instances, your periodontist may recommend a sinus lift procedure, a procedure that involves moving the membrane of the sinus upward to create a sufficient amount of space to place a bone graft. Once the bone graft is in place and has had time to heal, a dental implant can be placed in the future. Grafting material typically comes from donors, the patient’s own bone, which can be harvested from the mouth or other areas of the body, or the graft can be made of synthetic materials.
At Precision Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, our specialty trained periodontists Dr. Justin Zalewsky and Dr. Antara Daru have years of experience treating a wide range of stages of gum disease and placing dental implants. To learn more about the sinus lift procedure, our clinic facilities, or to schedule an appointment for a procedure, contact our Alexandria, VA office at (703) 823-2422 or our Washington D.C. office at (202) 296-3360.
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Sinus Lift Procedure Expectations
Prior to your procedure, a local anesthetic will be administered. Once sufficiently numbed, your periodontist will make an incision in the molar and premolar regions to expose the jawbone. Once a small opening has been made, your periodontist will have access to the sinus membrane, which they will lift up to create room for the grafting material. Once the grafting material is in place, the opening will be closed shut so the wound can begin the healing process. Following this, the bone graft will gradually integrate with the jawbone over the next several months until it becomes a part of the individual’s jawbone. Once this occurs, patients will be ready to have dental implants placed.
In some instances, it will be possible to perform the sinus lift and implant procedure during the same appointment, but this will depend upon whether or not the bottom of the sinus and the upper jaw ridge both have sufficient bone to support an implant. If there is sufficient bone, both procedures may occur in one appointment, but if this is there is not sufficient bone available, the patient will need to schedule two separate appointments.
Sinus Lift Aftercare
Following your sinus lift procedure, your recovery period can take anywhere from four months up to one year. Immediately following your procedure, there are several things you can do to help reduce swelling and pain and avoid unnecessary complications, such as developing an infection. Avoiding blowing your nose and sneezing (if possible) for the first month are two of the most important post-procedural rules to follow. If you suffer from allergies or are more prone to sneezing, you may consider taking a decongestant during this recovery period. Any pain or discomfort you experience during the initial recovery period can typically be alleviated with over-the-counter pain relieving medication.
Following your sinus lift procedure, you should also be attentive to changing your gauze pad over the area where surgery took place, changing it frequently until the bleeding has stopped. You can return to brushing your teeth the day after your surgery, but it is important to practice gentle brushing and rinsing techniques when you do. If you do not currently own one, you should consider purchasing and using a soft bristle toothbrush. If you follow these best practices, your recovery period should be relatively painless and quick. Once the healing process is complete, you will be ready to have dental implants installed.