Why Is a Sinus Lift Needed?
- Many people who have lost teeth in their upper jaw — particularly the back teeth, or molars — do not have enough bone for implants to be placed. Because of the anatomy of the skull, the back of the upper jaw has less bone than the lower jaw.
- Bone may have been lost because of periodontal (gum) disease.
- Tooth loss may have led to a loss of bone as well. Once teeth are gone, bone begins to be resorbed (absorbed back into the body). If teeth have been missing for a long time, there often is not enough bone left to place implants.
- The maxillary sinus may be too close to the upper jaw for implants to be placed. The shape and the size of this sinus varies from person to person. The sinus also can get larger as you age.
Dental implants are becoming a more and more popular option for permanent teeth replacement, making sinus grafts more common as well. Sinus lift surgery may sound scary, but you have nothing to worry about! At Premierone Implant Cencter, a full-service implantology clinic in Attleboro Falls, we conduct sinus lift bone graft procedures for dental implants on a daily basis.
