Sinus augmentation in Northern Virginia

Many people come to Northern Virginia Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates because their dentist has referred them to us for a dental implant.

One of the keys to a successful dental implant is ensuring the quality and quantity of the bone where the implant will be placed. If the dental implant will be placed in the upper back jawbone, you may need sinus augmentation first to create enough bone height in the area of the jaw that contains the molars and premolars.

What is Sinus Augmentation?

Sinus augmentation is another name for sinus lift surgery. It’s a technique used to raise the sinus floor so new bone can form in the upper back jawbone, allowing for the placement of a dental implant. Our oral surgeons will add bone between the jaw and maxillary sinuses, which are on either side of your nose. To create enough room for the bone graft, the oral surgeons will move the sinus membrane upward.

It’s become a common procedure in the past 20 years, and patients feel comfortable throughout the procedure.

Why may a sinus lift be necessary?

There are several reasons why there may not be enough natural bone in the back of the upper jaw to place a dental implant. A sinus lift may be necessary for these reasons:

• Anatomy: the back of the upper jaw has less bone than the lower jaw
• Shape and size of the sinus cavity, which gets larger with age
• Bone loss due to periodontal (gum) disease
• Bone loss due to a missing tooth or teeth

When you come for your consultation, the oral surgeon will take x-rays to study the anatomy of your jaw and sinuses. You may also need a CT scan, which can be taken right in the comfort of our own office. The scan allows our oral surgeons to accurately measure the height and width of the existing upper jawbone and evaluate the health of the sinus cavity.

Call us today to schedule a consultation to see whether a sinus lift may be necessary before getting a dental implant.