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18555 N 79th Ave Suite A-103 Glendale, AZ 85308-8370 Call Now! (623) 738-2564 |
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Posted on 6/30/2016 by Dr. Michael Allard |
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 When considering dental implants, there are a variety of different procedures to consider, especially if your jawbones do not have a lot of bone mass. One potential option for people who do not have enough bone mass in their upper jawbone (maxilla) is getting a sinus lift before a dental implant procedure.What is a Sinus Lift?A sinus lift is a type of bone graft where a small piece of bone is attached to the upper jaw. The bone used for the procedure can come from:
To attach the bone to your jaw and encourage growth, the gums are pulled away to expose the jawbone. Next, the sinus membrane is pushed to the side, and the new bone material is put at the bottom of the sinus cavity. Once the procedure is done, the patient is given stiches and given time to let the surgical site heal. The new bone material also needs time to fuse with the existing bone, so healing can take several months. Once the grafted bone has attached to the jaw and healed completely, a dental implant procedure for the upper jaw can be performed. What are the Alternatives?One alternative to a sinus lift coupled with a dental implant procedure is zygomatic implants. Zygomatic implants are much longer than traditional implants, which allows for the implant to be anchored near the zygomatic bone (also known more commonly as your cheekbones).The area around the zygomatic bone has a dense bone mass, so there is a lot of area to attach the implant to. Zygomatic implants can usually be done in one procedure because they do not require a sinus augmentation procedure beforehand. If you are missing teeth and worried about not having enough bone mass in your jaw, contact our office and we can help create a treatment plan that is right for you. |
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