Cosmetic & Reconstructive Periodontics & Implant Surgery
Periodontics and Implant Surgery
Tempe, AZ
480.820.4342
The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the upper teeth. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth extend up into the maxillary 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 sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago there was no other option than wearing loose dentures. Sinus augmentation has been shown to greatly increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come. Many patients experience minimal discomfort following this procedure.
Procedure:
Dr. Waring enters the sinus from where the upper teeth used to be. The sinus membrane is then lifted upward and donor bone is inserted into the floor of the sinus (which is the roof of the upper jaw). After 9 months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone.
If enough bone between the upper jaw and the bottom of the sinus is available to stabilize the implant well, sinus augmentation and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation is performed first. Once the graft has matured, the implants are placed.
Occasionally, there is nearly enough bone between the upper jaw and the floor of the sinus for implant placement, but not quite enough to avoid perforating the sinus floor. In these cases, the floor of the sinus can be elevated 2 – 3 mm from within the socket where the tooth used to be. Bone is then inserted beneath the sinus membrane prior to implant placement.
MARK C. WARING, D.D.S.
COSMETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE PERIODONTICS & IMPLANT SURGERY - TEMPE, AZ