Sinus Augmentation

If you have lost one or more of your permanent teeth, your jawbone may begin to atrophy at the site of the loss. To restore bone tissue and to prepare the mouth for further dental restoration, our dentists may recommend sinus augmentation. During your next appointment with Drs. Chris and Topher Chaffin, we can help you determine the treatment you need to reach the goals you have for your smile. Call Chaffin Dental Care at 509-467-6128 today if you have questions and to learn more about sinus augmentation in Spokane, WA!

A sinus lift, sometimes called a sinus augmentation, is a treatment that may be needed to add bone to the upper jaw in the area of the back teeth (molars and premolars) to enable successful implant placement. The maxillary sinuses are located above the upper jawbone on either side of your nose. When a tooth has been lost from the upper jaw, there may not be sufficient bone structure in the sinus region to place a dental implant. Tooth loss also leads to bone loss because the bone begins to be resorbed once the teeth have been lost or removed. If the teeth have been missing for a longer period of time, or if bone loss has occurred because of periodontal disease, this may further contribute to a lack of bone for implant placement.

To supplement the bone structure and allow for the successful placement of a dental implant, our dentist may recommend a sinus lift. During this procedure, we gently lift the sinus membrane and push it up and away from the jaw. We then add bone-grafting material in the area where the sinus was to add to the bone structure.

We typically allow a healing period of 4-9 months after this procedure so the grafted material can mesh with the natural bone. The dental implant can then be placed to replace the missing tooth. For more information about whether a sinus lift is right for your oral health needs, we invite you to contact us today.