If you’re getting dental implants in Knoxville, TN, you want to make sure that you do everything possible to make them go smoothly. Some patients may not have enough room in their upper jaw for dental implants to adjust properly. This is when sinus lift surgery is required. Dr. Robert C. Cain of East Tennessee Periodontics, LLC talks you through sinus lift surgery, why it’s needed, and what to expect.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. They’re comprised of three parts. First, there are titanium posts. These are what get actually implanted in your jaw. Next, an abutment is attached to the top of those posts. The abutment is what connects the post to your final restoration. The final restoration is often a dental crown, but dental implants can also support a denture or dental bridge.
Why is Sinus Lift Surgery Needed for Dental Implants?
Sometimes, the jaw doesn’t have enough room for the dental implants. This is usually because you’ve experienced bone loss in the upper jaw due to tooth loss or periodontal disease. If you don’t have an adequate amount of room between your upper jaw and maxillary sinus, a sinus lift surgery is necessary for you, too.
Previously, patients struggling with bone loss weren’t able to get dental implants. This both provides more room and thickens the sinus floor so the dental implants have the amount of bone and stability they need. A bone will be added between your upper jaw and the maxillary sinus. You’ll now have a strong foundation for dental implants, so you can feel like you have natural teeth again.
The Sinus Lift Surgery Process
An x-ray or CT scan may be needed first so that Dr. Cain can analyze the jaw and sinuses and measuring the height and width of your jaw bone. This gives him something to go off when the bone is harvested. The bone is taken from another part of your body, usually from your hip or the bone under your knee. If we’re unable to obtain tissue from your body, we can use synthetic material or material from a tissue bank.
For the actual procedure, an incision is made in your gum tissue on the side of your cheek where the implant will take place. Your gum tissue is opened and the bone and sinus membrane are pushed in towards the sinus cavity. You get a foundation that’ll properly hold your dental implants.
The bone graft material is then placed in the space below the lifted sinus cavity. The gum tissue is sutured up when this is secure and set. The surgery takes place under complete sedation for your comfort. Unfortunately, this does lengthen the time it’ll take for your dental implant journey. The sinus lift will have to heal for about six to nine months.
Dental Implants in Knoxville, Tennessee
Sometimes, your dental implant journey just has to add another step. If you’re interested in getting dental implants, call us or schedule an appointment online today!
