Is a sinus lift a common procedure? Why is is done?!
Question:
Is a sinus lift a common procedure? Why is is done?
Answers:
A sinus-lift procedure is a surgical procedure, performed by a specialised dentist, to augment bone mass in the top jaw (maxilla), which increases the likelihood of successful placement of dental implants. Bone from another part of the body, such as the iliac crest, is grafted in the bone (endosseous) below the floor of the maxillary sinus. In the upper jaw the amount of bone is reduced by the presence of the sinus. A number of techniques are used to increase the bone height:
1. Onlay grafts
2. Interpositional (Lefort I) grafts
3. Inlay grafts for nasal floor
4. Sinus-lift and grafting
Surgical technique
Lateral approach is used commonly in the severely resorbed and thin ridge cases. A crestal incision is made with vertical extensions and the lateral aspect of the maxilla is exposed. Then the osteotomy is completed. The lateral wall with the sinus membrane is rotated medially into the sinus. The sinus membrane can fold on itself when reflected medially. Implant sites can be prepared and implants placed at this stage. The medial part of the sinus is grafted first. After the implants have been placed, the remaining lateral part of the sinus defect is grafted. The flaps are relieved and closed primarily. The graft is left for 6-9 months. Implant placements should be delayed if they cannot be properly stabilised, to prevent complications.
Complications
* Graft failure
* Infection
* Oral antral fistula
* Sinusitis
* Tilting or loosening of implants
Basics:
A major factor for implant success is the quantity and the quality of the bone where the implant needs to be placed. The issue with placing implants In the back of the mouth for the upper jaws is the location of the sinus. Implants need to be placed in a certain amount of bone and they cannot be placed into the sinus cavity. Since the sinus is a membrane, it can be lifted and displaced by bone in a procedure called a sinus lift or sinus augmentation. This does decrease the volume of the sinus cavity but it is rarely ever an issue.