Do You Need a Sinus Lift Before an Upper Implant in Atlanta, GA?

If you're planning an implant in your upper back jaw and someone has mentioned a sinus lift, you probably want to know whether you need one. The answer depends on how much bone sits between your upper back teeth and your sinus, and a 3D scan shows us exactly that. At The Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite in Atlanta, GA, Dr. Jennifer Okhiria looks for a simpler route first, like a shorter or angled implant in the bone you already have. Here's how the two options compare, how the timing can work and what to expect after surgery.

What is a sinus lift, and why would I need one?

A sinus lift makes room for an implant in the upper jaw by building up bone where it has thinned. Your upper back teeth sit below the sinus, and after a tooth there is lost, the bone underneath can get too thin to hold an implant.

An implant depends on that bone. According to the ADA's MouthHealthy, the bone grows around an implant and holds it in place. Mayo Clinic notes that when the jawbone isn't thick enough, a bone graft may be needed before implant surgery. Bone grafting and sinus lifts are the groundwork that make implants possible when bone has thinned after a tooth was lost.

Sinus lift or a shorter implant: which one is right for me?

If your scan shows enough bone for a shorter or angled implant, that's the simpler route, and it's the one Dr. Okhiria looks for first. A sinus lift comes into the plan when the bone is too thin to hold an implant.

• A shorter or angled implant uses the bone you already have, so there's no separate graft to heal first.
• A sinus lift builds up bone below the sinus so an implant has the support it needs. Like other bone grafts, it needs time to heal.

Every implant we place is planned on a CBCT scan, a 3D image taken in our office that shows the height and width of your jawbone and the sinus above your upper teeth. Dr. Okhiria plans each implant's position on that scan, often with a surgical guide, and walks you through it on a big screen so you can see exactly what she sees. If the bone is too thin, she'll tell you at the consult and explain whether a graft comes first, so surgery day holds no surprises. You can read more about sinus lift surgery at The Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite.

How long does implant treatment take if I need more bone?

Added bone usually adds time, because a graft has to heal before it can support an implant. Mayo Clinic notes that it can take several months for a bone graft to grow enough new bone to support an implant.

The implant itself needs time too. MouthHealthy explains that some patients wait up to several months for an implant to fully integrate with the bone before the final tooth is attached.

Dr. Okhiria plans the timing case by case, and it often starts on the day a tooth comes out. In a video filmed at our office, she describes the first of two paths: "You can take the tooth out, let it heal for a few months" and then place the implant. In the right case, she removes the tooth and places the implant at the same visit. She also often places a graft at the same visit as an extraction, which keeps the bone from shrinking for a future implant. Your scan shows which path fits you.

What should I expect after surgery?

Some swelling, bruising and minor bleeding are common after implant surgery, according to Mayo Clinic. You go home with written instructions, and Dr. Okhiria makes the follow-up call herself.

Your overall health plays a part in how you heal. MouthHealthy points out that your health matters more than your age for implant treatment, and that using tobacco can slow healing. If something you're feeling after surgery doesn't match your instructions, call us and we'll talk it through.

Why do Atlanta, GA patients choose The Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite for a sinus lift?

At our office, one surgeon does your consult, your surgery and your follow-up call. Dr. Jennifer Okhiria plans your implant on your own 3D scan and checks for a shorter or angled implant before she recommends a sinus lift. Your consult happens in a private room with your scans on a big screen, so you can see exactly what we see.

You leave the consult with your plan and your costs in writing. Dr. Okhiria places the implant, and in many cases your general dentist makes the final tooth, with our team coordinating with them from the first scan. "When I call patients for follow-ups, I call them myself," Dr. Okhiria says. She's candid about what an implant is, too: "Dental implants are not a replacement. They're just a tool to help you chew."

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need a sinus lift?

A 3D scan shows it. Dr. Okhiria measures the bone below your sinus on a CBCT scan taken at our Atlanta, GA dental office, and she looks for a shorter or angled implant in the bone you already have before recommending a sinus lift.

Will I know my full plan and costs before treatment starts?

Yes. You leave the consult with your plan and your costs in writing, including whether a graft comes first, so nothing on surgery day is a surprise.

Can I choose sedation for implant surgery?

Yes. You can choose local anesthesia alone, laughing gas or IV sedation, and Dr. Okhiria runs IV sedation herself.

Do I need a referral to book a consult?

No. Most patients come with a referral from their dentist, and you're welcome without one.

If you're planning an implant in your upper back jaw, we'd love to look at your scan with you and talk through every option. Call us at (470) 944-1881 or send a request through our contact page, and our team will call you to find a time.

Published by Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite.