Sinus Lift Augmentation

When you lose teeth, the jawbone can become smaller and shrink. On the upper jawbone, lost back teeth can result in bone loss and an enlarging of the sinus cavities directly above the top jaw. If the sinuses have enlarged and the top jawbone is diminished, it can affect whether a patient is a good candidate for dental implants. At Scott A. Babin, DDS and Associates in Renton, we offer a procedure called sinus lift augmentation that can remedy enlarged sinuses and lost bone to prepare the mouth for dental implants.

To successfully insert the titanium posts needed for a dental implant, there needs to be adequate bone to secure them in place. It is common for bone loss to occur in the jawbone when teeth are lost. Without the teeth roots, the bone shrinks in size. The loss of molars on the upper set of teeth can allow the bone to shrink and the sinus cavity to expand downward. To achieve the density of bone needed for dental implants, the sinuses may need to be lifted back to their original location and bone grafts added to the upper jawbone.

Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

To increase the thickness of bone on the upper jawbone and lift the sinuses, a bone graft is needed. The bone from this graft can be harvested from the patient’s own body or a donor bone sample can be used. The procedure can be performed at our clinic in Renton. The bottom of the sinus is lifted through the top gums and the bone graft is added to the upper jawbone. The bone graft will need to heal for 9-12 months before it will be strong enough to secure dental implants.

Even those who have had bone loss in their jaw can be candidates for dental implants. Bone grafting and sinus lift augmentation are implant services we offer at Scott A. Babin, DDS and Associates to give our patients the option of enjoying the benefits of dental implants for teeth restoration. To learn more, contact our dental office in Renton to schedule a dental implant and bone grafting consultation.