If you’ve lost your upper back teeth, you may need a sinus lift to provide a solid base for dental implants. Oral surgery experts Robert Tingilian, DDS, and Tom Shanakian, DDS, at Comfort Care Dental offer this procedure at their offices in Sherman Oaks and Glendale, California. Sinus lifts can prepare your teeth for necessary dental implants. Find out about restoring your healthy smile by calling today or booking a consultation online.
Sinus Lifts Q & A
What do my sinuses have to do with my teeth?
Your maxillary sinuses are air-filled spaces that sit on top of your upper back teeth. Some of the roots of your upper teeth reach into these sinuses.
When you have your upper back teeth removed, just a thin wall of bone separates these sinuses from your mouth. This wall of bone may be too narrow to support dental implants — making it difficult to replace your missing teeth. In such cases, your dentist at Comfort Care Dental may recommend a sinus lift.
Why do I need a sinus lift?
A sinus lift provides support for dental implants. You may need a sinus lift if you’ve lost more than one tooth in the back of your jaw or you’re missing a significant amount of bone in the back of your jaw. You may also need a sinus lift if you’re missing teeth due to a congenital disability or condition.
What is a sinus lift?
A sinus lift is one of the most common bone-grafting procedures to treat bone loss in your upper jaw. The surgery promotes the formation of bone on the floor of your sinus above the bony ridge of the gum line that anchors your upper teeth. The new bone provides a secure, stable location to attach a dental implant — and restore your healthy smile.
What happens during a sinus lift?
Sinus lift surgery works by encouraging the growth of new bone and by raising your sinus floor. The experts at Comfort Care Dental perform several techniques to lift the sinus and promote bone formation.
In one common technique, your dentist makes an incision to expose the bone, then cuts a small circle into the bone. They move the circle of bone into your sinus cavity and fill the space underneath with bone graft material. This material regenerates your lost bone and tissue.
If you’ve lost teeth in your upper back jaw, a sinus lift can help to restore your healthy smile. Find out more about this advanced procedure by calling today or booking a consultation online with Comfort Care Dental.