Sinus Lifts

A sinus lift makes up for a lack of bone density or thickness in your upper jaw due to gum disease, your natural facial structure, or tooth loss. Before you get a dental implant, dentist Charanjit Sandhu, DDS, evaluates your jawbone at All Smiles Dental Care in Hazlet, New Jersey, to see if you need a sinus lift. You might need one before getting a dental implant. Call the office or schedule a consultation online today. 

What is a sinus lift?

A sinus lift is a bone grafting surgery to increase the amount of bone in your upper jaw. This minimizes the space in your sinus, which is why it’s called a sinus lift. It’s also called sinus augmentation. 

Before you get a sinus lift, your dentist at All Smiles Dental Care evaluates your jaw using X-ray imaging. They tell you if a sinus lift is necessary and can review your options for the graft. It could be composed of:

• Synthetic bone
• Human donor bone
• Animal donor bone
• A bone graft from somewhere else in your body

Your dentist can then plan your surgery in detail so that it strengthens your jawbone and readies you for upcoming treatments like dental implant surgery. 

When do I need a sinus lift?

There are a few different reasons you might need a sinus lift at All Smiles Dental Care. Many people need a sinus lift after bone resorption has occurred in the upper jaw. This happens when your jaw loses support, often because of missing teeth, and loses density as a result. You can also lose bone density to severe gum disease.

Getting a sinus lift prepares you to get one or more dental implants in your upper jaw. The bone material, whether it’s real or synthetic, integrates with the dental implant to make it sturdy. With healed dental implants, you can bite, chew, and speak without fear of hurting your jaw or damaging your natural teeth. 

How should I prepare for a sinus lift?

The main step you need to take to prepare for your sinus lift is to come to All Smiles Dental Care for a treatment consultation. During this visit, you discuss your needs and preferences for grafting material, anesthesia, and other aspects of the procedure. Your dentist takes X-rays and plans your surgery. 

Your dentist may give you detailed instructions for what to do leading up to your surgery. If you smoke, they suggest you stop. You might also need to stop taking certain medications ahead of your surgery or make arrangements for the healing process, like requesting time off work. 

To schedule a consultation and find out if you need a sinus lift, call All Smiles Dental Care or book an appointment online today.