Dental implants can offer life-changing results when you have missing teeth. That’s because they’re the closest thing to the ones you were born with, thanks to their innovative design.
Unlike dentures, crowns, and bridges that sit on top of the gums and teeth, dental implants have a post anchored in the jawbone. That anchor creates a synthetic tooth root that holds your artificial crown securely in place, giving the fit, feel, and function of a natural tooth.
However, that design also means an implant needs plenty of healthy bone to support it. And if the missing tooth involves the back of your upper jaw, that can mean a sinus bone augmentation procedure.
Emmanuel Aguilar, DMD, specializes in cosmetic services and implant dentistry at American Dental Clinic in San Diego, California.
If you have missing teeth, Dr. Aguilar assesses your needs and guides you through getting a dental implant and sinus bone augmentation.
Your jaw structure plays an essential role in your overall health and well-being, and that goes far beyond creating a structure for your face and mouth. This engineering marvel also enables you to bite and chew your food, yawn, speak, breathe, and express yourself.
The anatomical design of the area means there’s less bone at the back of the upper jaw than at the lower. In most cases, people also have maxillary sinuses close to the upper jaw on either side of the nose. While this is normal, additional factors can also lead to bone loss in the upper jaw, including age, tooth loss, and periodontal disease.
Most people have little reason to pay attention to the amount of bone in this area. However, if you need a dental implant in that part of your mouth, you need enough bone of the right height to place the post. That’s where sinus bone augmentation can help.
If Dr. Aguilar suggests a dental implant as the ideal tooth replacement option for you, he needs to assess your jaw health before moving forward with your procedure. He accomplishes this through a comprehensive exam and X-rays or scans of your jaw and sinuses.
When you don’t have enough bone for the implant, a sinus bone augmentation — or a sinus lift — can add height and structure to the back of the upper jaw. This step improves the bone quantity and quality to ensure a successful dental implant.
Sinus bone augmentation procedures allow more people to get dental implants, a favorite option for replacing missing teeth for patients and dentists alike. The benefits of dental implants include:
You can also consider an implant a permanent solution that lasts decades or even longer.
As mentioned above, sinus bone augmentation allows Dr. Aguilar to add bone to the back of your upper jaw. He does this by gently lifting your sinus cavity to create more room.
First, Dr. Aguilar places you under general anesthesia to keep you comfortable. He starts your sinus augmentation by cutting through the gum tissue where you have the missing tooth and lifting the tissue to expose the underlying bone.
Next, Dr. Aguilar cuts a hole in the bone — like a window or trap door — and gently lifts it into the sinus cavity. Finally, he fills the newly created space with bone graft material to add height to the area.
Once complete, Dr. Aguilar closes the tissue with stitches.
It’s completely normal to have mild discomfort after sinus bone augmentation. However, Dr. Aguilar provides personalized instructions to ease your symptoms and keep the treatment site clean.
After about a week, Dr. Aguilar sees you again to remove your stitches and evaluate the healing process. You can often expect it to take several months for a bone graft to fully integrate and harden within your jawbone. Once it does, Dr. Aguilar can move forward with your dental implants.
When you have sinus bone augmentation, you have a stronger jawbone and a functional, natural-looking, and long-lasting implant instead of a missing tooth.
Curious to learn more about the sinus bone augmentation process? Contact Dr. Aguilar at American Dental Clinic to schedule an appointment in San Diego, California.
