Sinus Lift

What is a Sinus Lift?

Enhance Your Dental Implant Success with Sinus Lift: Learn More with Dr. Lynn

The maxillary sinuses are behind your cheeks and on top of the upper teeth. These sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces. Some of the roots of the natural upper teeth extend up into the maxillary sinuses. When these upper teeth are removed, there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone.
The key to a successful and long-lasting dental implant is the quality and quantity of jaw bone to which the implant will be attached. If bone loss has occurred due to injury or periodontal disease, a sinus augmentation can raise the sinus floor and allow for new bone formation. A sinus lift is one of the most common bone grafting procedures for patients with bone loss in the upper jaw. The procedure seeks to grow bone in the maxillary sinus floor above the bony ridge of the gum line that anchors the teeth in the upper jaw. This enables dental implants to be placed and secured in the new bone growth.

Am I a Candidate for a Sinus Lift Procedure?

A sinus lift may be necessary if you:

  • are missing more than one tooth in the back of your jaw
  • are missing a significant amount of bone in the back of your jaw
  • are missing teeth due to a birth defect or condition
  • are missing most of the maxillary teeth and require support for dental implants
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Stop looking further for your oral surgery needs, Dr. Auerbach is all you need to know. A few minutes into my consultation visit and I already knew I was in great hands. He was very professional, great on answering all questions I had, and gave me as much time as I needed without making me feel rushed. There's a reason the NJ Devils trust Riverside. I had all 4 wisdom teeth removed in just under an hour. Thankfully, he did a great job on that as well as preparing me for what the recovery process would entail. He personally followed up with me the next day to check in on me and see if I was having any complications....which I wasn't, cause he's just that good.

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I cannot say enough about Dr. Auerbach and the staff at Riverside Oral Surgery! Dr. Auerbach did an awesome job extracting four of my son's wisdom teeth. His patient care and concern really touch my heart. He made himself available to answer my questions and it was obvious that he cares about his patients and their families. The ladies at the front desk, along with the nursing staff that I encountered were knowledgeable, gracious, and kind! Furthermore, the place is immaculate and stylish! I highly recommend Dr. Auerbach and Riverside Oral Surgery. God bless all of you!

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My gums were infected and super sensitive, I went to my normal dentist who told me it was nothing serious and sent me on my way. It got worse and my dentist didn’t answer the “emergency line” so I reached out to Dr.Auerbachs office and they were kind enough to get me in due to the pain I was feeling. As soon as I sat in the chair Dr.Auerbach knew exactly what the problem was and assured me it will be treated properly and efficiently. The staff was so kind and prompt. I was so thankful to have gotten in when I did. Dr.Auerbach came highly recommended, which I can reassure you, he is the best. I will always be using him and his office. They really do make you feel calm and like things will be taken care of! I would recommend to anyone 10/10!

How is this procedure Accomplished?

A small incision is usually made on the premolar or molar region to expose the jaw bone. A small opening is cut into the bone, and the membrane lining the sinus is pushed upward. The underlying space is filled with bone grafting material from your body or other sources. Sometimes, synthetic materials that imitate bone formation are used. After the bone is implanted, the incision is sutured, and the healing process begins. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient’s jaw, and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in the newly formed sinus bone.

If enough bone between the upper jaw ridge and the bottom of the sinus is available to sufficiently stabilize the implant, sinus augmentations and implant placement can sometimes be performed as a single procedure. If not enough bone is available, the sinus augmentation will have to be performed first, then the graft will have to mature for up to several months, depending upon the type of graft material used. Once the graft has matured, the implants can be placed.

The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants that previously had no other option besides wearing loose dentures.

A sinus augmentation is generally performed under local anesthesia at our oral surgeon’s office. Some patients may request oral or intravenous sedative medication as well.

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