Sedation Dentistry in South Bend

What Are Sinus Lifts?

Many people lack adequate bone mass in their jaw to support dental implants. Some of our patients lose bone mass due to periodontal disease and missing teeth. Alternatively, your natural facial anatomy may include thin bones or large sinus cavities. 

Our team performs sinus lifts to add more bone tissue to our patients’ upper jaw areas in the back of the mouth where the molars are located. As you might imagine, this is a highly specialized procedure. To make room for the new bone, our oral surgery team gently lifts the sinus cavity upward. 

Once the sinus lift is complete, there should be more room for adding dental implants to your smile in the future. Replacing missing teeth in your back jaw allows you to eat and speak normally again. Our entire oral surgery team has years of training and extensive experience in performing sinus lifts. If you have any questions about sinus lifts in South Bend, then reach out to our team for the answers you need to move forward with restoring your smile.

How Can I Know If Sinus Lift Surgery Is the Right Option for Me?

You might be ready to consider planning a sinus lift surgery when you need an extraction for a decayed tooth in your upper jaw. Sinus lifts are also an option for people who are replacing a missing tooth in this area with a dental implant. Our team frequently recommends sinus lifts to patients who are good candidates for the procedure. We can also use special imaging technology to assess your jawbone mass when you visit us at The Dental Center of South Bend.

What Does the Sinus Lift Procedure Involve?

During a sinus lift procedure, your safety and well-being are our priorities. We begin by performing sinus lifts in a surgically-accredited facility that allows us to use the latest technology and techniques for the best results.

Before your sinus lift procedure, we’ll discuss sedation options. Being able to use sedation dentistry ensures that you stay calm and relaxed while we perform the procedure. Once a member of our experienced team numbs the area we’re working on, we will then be ready to create an incision in your gums that allows us to access the sinus cavity.

Next, your care provider will use a special tool to elevate the sinus cavity to make room for the bone grafting material. After we place the bone graft and reposition the sinus cavity, we’ll suture the small incision closed.

The entire procedure only takes a short amount of time from start to finish. In fact, our patients often report being surprised that we’re done. With most types of sedation dentistry, you’ll also be able to communicate with us if you experience any concerns during the procedure. 

What Happens After the Sinus Lift?

We love it when our patients are eager to look forward to the future and enjoy a fully restored smile. After your procedure is complete, we’ll provide you with after-care instructions. We’ll also let you know about symptoms to watch out for as you recover.

Most people experience some mild swelling and discomfort during the first few days after their surgery. But, these should improve over time. You’ll also come back to our office one to two weeks later for a follow-up visit at The Dental Center of South Bend. During this appointment, we’ll check your healing progress. 

We can place dental implants during the sinus lift surgery, or we may wait for four to six weeks to allow your bone graft to fuse to your jawbone. In both cases, we encourage you to stay in contact with our team if you encounter any questions during the healing process.

Are Sinus Lifts Covered by Insurance?

Many dental insurance providers cover at least a portion of the cost of sinus lift surgeries. Depending on your insurance coverage, you may also receive assistance with paying for dental implants. Since everyone’s situation is different, our team will help you determine what your insurance policy may cover for the procedure. We can also help connect you to insurance plans that make it more financially affordable to achieve good oral health.

Create a Stronger Jaw for Successful Dental Implants

With a sinus lift surgery, we can safely remove damaged or decayed teeth in the upper jaw and place dental implants that restore your oral functioning. Each of our seasonal oral surgeons uses innovative technology and the utmost care to rebuild jawbones with bone grafts and sinus augmentations.

Restoring your beautiful smile has never been simpler! To achieve long-lasting oral health and comfort, reach out to our office today to schedule an initial consultation at The Dental Center of South Bend. We can’t wait to help you start looking forward to achieving your goals for a beautiful smile.