A clearer picture of dental implant treatment: the sinus lift

If you have just had a consultation for dental implants and have been told that you need to have a sinus lift first, you may be wondering what on earth that involves.

Here at Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire, dental implants have changed lives, and we want to be able to offer them to as many people as possible. However, some people no longer have the strong healthy upper jaw required to withstand the forces that dental implants endure when you bite and chew. That’s where a sinus lift can make all the difference.

Dental Implants in OxfordshireSinus lift: the basics

Sinus lift surgery is a type of bone graft procedure, which usually follows the same basic principles. This is where strong, healthy bone material is inserted into your upper jaw. The bone material can be taken from somewhere else in your body, such as your hip or shin. You could also receive bone from a tissue bank, either human or bovine, that has been frozen or freeze-dried. Or, the dentist may use a synthetic material that mimics bone.

This surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic, although if it is going to be particularly long then general anaesthetic may be preferable.

What your dentist will do

Your dentist will cut into the gum in the area where the dental implant will later be inserted. Once the jawbone has been exposed, your dentist will cut into it to make a movable flap. This flap will be lifted up, revealing the empty space that needs to be filled with the bone graft material.

Then what happens?

Depending on your case, it may be possible for you to have your dental implants put in at the same time as the sinus lift procedure. However more often, we like to allow a healing period of at least 6 months before fitting your dental implants in Oxfordshire. This ensures your teeth, gums and mouth are ready for the next stage of your treatment, where your missing teeth with finally be restored.

To find out more about dental implants in Oxfordshire, whether they will work for you, and to book an appointment, simply get in touch with our friendly staff.