If you need dental implants, you may find there is not enough bone to allow for new teeth to be surgically implanted. A sinus lift surgery may be required to ensure your implants will be successful. Sinus augmentations are commonly known as the surgery designed to make room for the bone. A Sinus augmentation will allow Dr. Hoerner to place bone between the jaw and the maxillary sinuses. The sinus augmentation surgery involves the movement of the sinus membrane upward so dental implants can be placed in the bone.
Do I Need Sinus Surgery? 
Contact our dental office to schedule a free consultation and we can discuss treatment options and what is required. If we find you do not have enough bone density to support implants, we will discuss sinus augmentation and if it is right for you. Here are some common situations where we do recommend sinus surgery:
- Missing teeth in the upper jaw, which has lead to bone loss.
- Gum disease that caused bone loss.
- Maxillary sinus is too close to the upper jaw.
Dr. Hoerner will meet with you, take x-rays, and discuss your oral health situation. If it is found that you need sinus surgery, we will discuss the best options. The bone used can come from your body, or from cadaver bone or cow bone. Depending upon your body and how well it responds to surgery, we will determine the best option for the bone transfer. Dr. Hoerner carefully studies the anatomy of your jaw and sinus to determine the amount of bone needed.
When you do undergo sinus surgery, we will cut the gum tissue where the teeth used to be and raise the tissue to expose the bone. A small window will be opened in the bone and we gently push the membrane lining of the sinus on the other side from this small window up and away from the jaw. The new bone will be packed into the area where the membrane was lifted and moved and will be closed with gum tissue and stitches. Normally it takes at least four to nine months for the area to heal and for the implant surgery to begin.
Post-Op Sinus Surgery
If you do undergo sinus augmentation, you will be given specific after-care treatment requirements. You may notice swelling and bleeding from the nose and mouth for a few days. Follow the at-home treatment plan to avoid hurting the stitches and causing issues. Saline spray is used to keep the inner liner of the nose moist, allowing it to heal better. Minor pain is normal following the first day or two, but most patients start to feel normal by the third day following surgery. Patients will visit our office about a week or two after the surgery for the stitches to be removed and the area to be inspected and make sure the bone is not being rejected. Contact our office or your surgeon immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after the surgery:
- Swelling that continues to get worse
- Pain that does not slow down with painkillers
- Bleeding past the first two days from the surgery
- Bone material that is dislodged if you accidentally sneeze
- Fever
Dental implants are surgically positioned into the jaw bone by Dr. Hoerner following a successful sinus augmentation. We will make sure the bone density and volume is strong enough to hold the implant prior to beginning surgery. If you are considering dental implants, contact our North Dakota dental implant office to schedule a free consultation. 701-390-1920
