Why You Must Know About "Sinus Lift" Before Upper Molar Implants

Hello, this is Gangnam White Dream Dental Clinic.

When looking into upper molar implants,

there are cases where you may hear that a sinus lift

is needed as well.

Because it is an unfamiliar term, you may wonder what

the procedure is and why it is necessary.

Today, I will explain when a sinus lift is performed

and how it is carried out. Changes in the jawbone after tooth extraction

After a tooth is extracted, the jawbone at that site can

become resorbed over time.

Both the bone width and bone height can decrease, and

the longer the waiting period after extraction or the more

gum inflammation there was before extraction, the greater

the degree of resorption may be.

Because implants are fixed within the jawbone,

if there is not enough bone volume and height, placement

itself may be difficult.

Check item	Why it is examined
Bone height	Space is needed equal to the implant length
Bone width	If the bone is narrow, it may be difficult to stabilize the implant
Waiting period	The longer the period, the greater the amount of resorption may be
Presence of prior inflammation	If there was bone damage before extraction, the condition may be less favorable
Why a sinus lift is needed for upper molars

Directly above the roots of the upper molars is a

hollow space called the maxillary sinus.

It is a space connected to the nose, about the size of

a ping-pong ball, and what is commonly called sinusitis

is a condition related to this area.

If an implant is placed when there is not enough jawbone,

the following problems can occur.

1. The implant may enter the maxillary sinus

2. The thin membrane lining the maxillary sinus (the sinus membrane) may be damaged

To prevent these situations, a sinus lift may be performed

by lifting the sinus membrane and securing space,

together with bone grafting.

How a sinus lift is performed

The procedure method may vary depending on the degree

of bone deficiency.

If the sinus membrane needs to be lifted significantly,

by 4 mm or more, a lateral approach through the buccal

gumbone may be used.

The sequence of the lateral approach is as follows.

1. Make a small incision in the buccal gumbone
2. Carefully lift the maxillary sinus membrane
3. Fill the secured space sufficiently with bone graft material
4. Place the implant, or perform bone grafting first and wait for recovery
5. If only a slight lift is needed, the procedure may be limited to lifting without additional bone grafting. Recovery after surgery

Oral photo of the wound closure after the first surgery

When a sinus lift and bone grafting are performed together,

sufficient healing time is needed until the graft material

forms new jawbone and bonds with the implant.

In general, the prosthetic connection process may begin

after about 5 months.

This is an X-ray taken after the patient's final treatment.

If recovery goes well, the X-ray can show that cortical bone

the hardest layer of the gumbone, has formed in the lifted area.

▲ Before/after treatment of upper molar implants

with a sinus lift

[Same person and photographed in the same environment / Period: 23.04.04 - 23.10.18]​

Things to consider during a sinus lift

The sinus membrane is a thin and delicate tissue.

Careful handling to avoid damaging it during lifting

may be a key part of the procedure.

The following situations may require sufficient review

before the procedure.

If there is inflammation in the maxillary sinus (sinusitis) If the anatomical structure of the maxillary sinus is complex If the amount of jawbone deficiency is very large

This is why it is important to receive treatment from a medical team with enough procedural experience. In conclusion, a sinus lift is a procedure considered when there is insufficient jawbone for upper molar implants.

By reviewing several factors together, such as the amount of bone, the distance to the maxillary sinus, and the waiting period after extraction, the appropriate method is determined.

< Case of full upper implant treatment with a sinus lift >

If you are considering an upper molar implant or if a long time has passed since extraction, it may be helpful to begin by checking the exact bone condition.

This has been Gangnam White Dream Dental Clinic. Thank you.

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