A dental implant is
essentially an artificial tooth root which is
attached to the jaw bone. Eventually, a
replacement tooth or bridge will be firmly fixed
to this root, restoring complete function to the
tooth. The key to a successful and long-lasting
implant is the quality and quantity of jawbone
to which the implant will be attached. If bone
has been lost due to injury or periodontal
disease, a sinus augmentation can raise the
sinus floor to allow for new bone formation.
In the most common sinus
augmentation technique, a tiny incision is made
near the upper premolar or molar region to
expose the jawbone. A small opening is cut into
the bone and the membrane lining the sinus on
the other side of the opening is gently pushed
upward. The underlying space is filled with
bone graft material and the incision is closed.
The bone which is used for this procedure may be
from your own body or from a cadaver. Sometimes
the dentist might use synthetic materials which
can also stimulate bone formation. The implants
are placed after healing has occurred; this will
depend on the individual case. Sinus
augmentation has been shown to increase the
success of dental implant procedures.