Sinus Floor Elevation
Back teeth that are missing often causes the bone to shrink over time. If there is not enough bone available to place dental implants, a sinus lift procedure can be performed to add bone back.
Evaluation
When upper back teeth are missing or need to be removed, there may not be enough remaining bone to place dental implants. This process of bone remodeling may be accelerated as a result of periodontal disease, or the expansion of an anatomic structure above your upper jaw called the maxillary sinus.
Diagnosis
Not everyone who needs dental implants requires a sinus lift. However if there is not a sufficient amount of bone to fully surround dental implants in the upper jaw, your dentist may recommend seeing a periodontist to add bone first. A sinus lift, also known as a sinus augmentation or sinus floor elevation is a procedure to increase the amount of bone in the upper jaw, particularly in the area of your back teeth (premolars and molars).
Planning
The maxillary sinus is located behind your cheeks, above your upper back teeth on either side. These air-filled cavities are lined by a membrane, which can be gently lifted to make space for adding bone graft material and increasing the available bone height for placing implants. This procedure is typically done by dental specialists such as periodontists or oral surgeons.
