What is a sinus lift and bone graft?
Sinus Lift
The sinus is a hollow cavity in the skull that connects with the nasal cavities. A Sinus Lift Augmentation procedure regains lost bone height in the area of your first and second molar and occasionally second premolar. It is an important procedure as it allows implant placement in the area that could not be implanted otherwise because of insufficient bone height due to an enlarged sinus. The bone that has been grafted is most commonly a combination of freeze-dried bone, artificial synthetic bone and your own bone.
Bone Graft
Bone grafting is a successful procedure which has been performed in a high number of patients. Bone grafts do not present rejection problems such as organ transplants and dentists will, in most cases, use your own bone and won’t need replacement bone.
A membrane is placed over the area of bone healing and it serves as a protective barrier which prevents rapidly growing soft tissue from invading the space that should be occupied by the slowly in growing bone.
However, a bone graft might fail due to an infection or even instability in the area which makes the bone becomes loose. Smokers and patients with certain medical conditions are more likely to present these symptoms. If it happens, the failed graft will be removed and a new one will be replaced.
Type of bone graft materials are:
- Animal Bone
- Mineral Bone Substitute
Dental material used at Dental Holiday Slovakia is Mineral Bone Substitute – Material Algipore
Aftercare & Recovery following a Sinus Lift and bone graft
Immediately following surgery:
Bite on the gauze pad placed over the site of the sinus lift for an hour.
Avoid mouth rinsing or touching the wound area following surgery. This may result in bleeding causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged.
To reduce any swelling, place ice packs to the sides of your face where the bone graft was performed.
You should eat a little something after the dental procedure so that the food can be digested before the local anesthetic has worn off. Having something of substance in the stomach to coat the stomach will help reduce nausea from the pain medications.
Restrict your activities the day of the surgery and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable. If you are active, your heart will be beating harder and you can expect excessive bleeding and throbbing from the wound.
- NO SMOKING UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.