What exactly is meant by the term "maxillary sinus lift"?

 

Have you discussed the possibility of getting a dental implant with your dentist, and has he informed you that you do not have sufficient bone for the procedure? Also, has he brought up the prospect of having a maxillary sinus lift performed at any point?

We will explain to you, from a Virginia dental care dentist specializing in dental implant procedures and oral surgery, what this method entails and why it is beneficial for your particular circumstance.

What exactly is meant by the term "maxillary sinus lift"?

The elevation of the maxillary sinus is a surgical procedure that aims to increase bone in the upper arcade of the mouth. The purpose of this process is to make more space for dental implants. When a patient has insufficient height or bone volume, an adequate bone base can be achieved using this method to place dental implants. This method is used when the patient does not have enough bone height.

The membrane that covers the maxillary sinus bone will need to be lifted to accomplish this. This will create a space between the maxillary bone and the membrane, which will be used to place the graft material.

Because the height of the bone decreases after the loss of these pieces, it is typically necessary to elevate the maxillary sinus in the areas of the upper jaw occupied by the molars and premolars. As was mentioned earlier, this procedure is an essential first step that must be completed to have dental implants placed.

In cases where there has been only a moderate reduction in bone height, a maxillary sinus lift can be carried out through the hole being prepared for the implant. In circumstances with a more significant loss of bone, it is essential to have access to the maxillary sinus membrane through the literal wall of the sinus. This makes it possible for the membrane elevation process to be carried out in a controlled and secure manner.

Sometimes the maxillary sinus lift surgery and the implant placement can be done during the same surgical intervention. This is known as a simultaneous procedure.

Is there any treatment that can be done in place of a maxillary sinus lift?

Short implants, which can be placed in the residual bone under the maxillary sinus membrane, or zygomatic implants, are typically alternative proposals that can be made in place of this kind of surgery.

However, when the patient does not wish to go through with this intervention, it is in the patient's best interest to consult with a reliable implantologist. He will be in a position to analyze the individual circumstances of the patient better than anyone else, and he will be in a position to provide the patient with an alternative solution if he considers it appropriate.