About 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, and for many of them, a dental implant can restore the form and function of their mouth. Not everyone is the right candidate for a dental implant, though. You need enough quality jaw bone to support your implant. Thankfully, there are many procedures, including sinus lifts and bone grafts, that can turn a not-so-ideal dental implant candidate into an ideal implant candidate.
Here at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery, our team of experts excel at performing sinus lifts and bone grafts. Below, we share the seven signs that you might be a good candidate for a sinus lift.
7 signs you might be a good candidate for a sinus lift
Not everyone needs a sinus lift in order to receive dental implants, but if you do need a sinus lift, this procedure can turn your dreams of implants into reality. You won’t be able to determine if you need a sinus lift just by looking at your jaw or gums. When you come to Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery for a sinus lift consultation, we perform a comprehensive exam complete with 3D imaging. The advanced and highly detailed images can help shape your dental implant treatment plan, including whether or not you need a bone graft or a sinus lift. We may suggest a sinus lift if your jaw is weak or damaged, but you want dental implants.
You might be a good candidate for a sinus lift if:
- Some of your upper back teeth are missing
- Your upper jawbone is damaged
- You want implants and are committed to the process of attaining them
- Your upper jawbone is weakened through injury or atrophy
- You’re committed to the recovery process (which can take months for complete bone healing)
- You’re in good overall health (as you should be for any surgical procedure)
- You’re a non-smoker (smoking can impact the healing of your sinus lift as well as bone grafts or dental implants)
When arriving for your sinus lift consultation, be ready to discuss your health history, including all medications you take (if any).
You’re a good candidate… Now what?
Once you’re cleared for a sinus lift, you might wonder what comes next. Your sinus lift is intended to lift up your maxillary sinus. The purpose behind this is to allow for plenty of room for your bone graft, which will support your dental implant. The basic steps of a sinus lift are as follows:
- Expose the jaw bone with a small incision
- Push up the maxillary sinus to make more space for your bone graft material
- Application of the bone graft material, which can come from your own hip bone, a donor, or synthetic material
- Close the incision with sutures
After the procedure is completed, it’s time to wait. It can take up to six months for your jaw bone to heal, but once your jaw is healed, you can return to one of our Virginia-based offices to receive your dental implant.
If you’re missing teeth and would like to explore the possibilities of a dental implant, schedule an appointment for any of our locations via our online scheduling tool and find the solutions that can make your dental implants a reality.