The experienced oral care team at Long Island Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry specializes in performing dental bone graft and sinus lift procedures, creating a perfect platform to permanently place dental implants and restore your smile to its naturally spectacular state.
Dental implants are a highly functional and aesthetically appealing solution for those who have lost natural teeth to extraction, infection, or traumatic injury. However, it is not always possible to reliably install dental implants into the mouth of a patient due to deterioration of the underlying bone.
Sinus Lifts
A sinus lift is a dental treatment option with the end result of elevating the floor of the sinus membrane that runs alongside the jawbone. This procedure helps create a stable and durable installation site that allows for the placement of dental implants along with the securing structures that hold them firmly to your jaw.
A sinus lift is a common treatment option for patients who have lost significant bone density, are missing multiple teeth, or require adjustments to protect against damage from implant placement. Our Long Island dentistry practice has been refining our techniques in this procedure for years, giving us expertise in every element of the process.
The procedure begins with a small incision in the gum tissues of the cheek area, close to the upper jaw. Our dental care team can then move the soft tissue aside to expose the jaw structure, creating extra space between the sinus membrane and the jawbone. Patients undergoing this procedure are treated with local anesthetic, making it practically painless.
Bone Grafts
Bones throughout the skeleton regenerate in healthy human bodies over time, and this natural healing factor delivers a highly effective option in restorative dental care. Bone grafts are often performed in conjunction with sinus lifts, creating a foundation that is not only suitable for the placement of dental implants but stronger than the original bone structure.
A dental graft takes bone material from other sources and places them in the void created between the sinus membrane and jawbone by a sinus lift. Bone material can be obtained in a number of ways, including through synthetic production, prepared organic bone products, and even by taking material from elsewhere on the patient’s body, such as the mouth or hip.
Regardless of the source, the amount of skeletal material required to perform a dental graft is typically very small, with a few millimeters of additional bone granules being sufficient to fill most sinus lift sites. When the bone material fills the empty space, the area is sealed with stitches to prepare the area for eventual placement of dental implants.
Recovery
Because each patient is unique, each recovery is unique, but the preliminary healing process most often takes 7-10 days. During this period, patients may experience some level of swelling in the mouth or face, and some light bleeding may occur. Powerful sneezes and blowing of the nose may cause stitches to come loose, and should be done with care.
A percentage of patients experience some discomfort as the body works to restore itself, and this can usually be treated with conventional over the counter pain medication. Patients may also be prescribed antibiotics to ward off a potential infection and must be sure to complete the course to prevent the delayed resurgence of resistant strains.
A follow-up visit is typically scheduled a week or two after the procedure to evaluate the progress of healing and remove any remaining stitches. Once the dental structures and tissues are sufficiently healed, a patient becomes a candidate for dental implants to replace missing teeth, and are well on their way to a fully restored smile.
When dental restoration is the goal, our Long Island dentists can perform procedures such as sinus lifts and bone grafts to rebuild this essential structure. Contact our friendly team today to learn more about our treatments as well as multiple options for financing your dental care.
