In most cases, replacing missing teeth with dental implants is the superior method, thanks to the incredible stability they provide. These titanium screws secure into your jawbone, anchoring artificial teeth in place. However, not everyone is built for dental implants. To fully integrate with your jaw, implants need ample bone structure for support. Unfortunately, tooth loss leads to a loss of jawbone mass and volume, making it challenging for many patients to restore their smiles. That is where a sinus lift comes in! Despite its name, a sinus lift is more focused on providing bone structure to your jaw rather than altering your sinuses. With a more robust jaw structure, patients often become eligible for conventional implants, allowing them to securely anchor in the bone. But what about for mini dental implants? Is a sinus lift still necessary?
Understanding the Sinus Lift
A sinus lift procedure is designed to create more vertical bone, allowing for a dental implant to safely secure in your jaw. This is especially a concern for conventional dental implants, as they are much wider in diameter and require more jawbone structure.
Often, after jawbone loss, sinuses slowly extend into the now-empty space, creating a thinner layer of bone between the mouth and your sinus membrane. Other times, patients are born with naturally large sinuses that may impact their eligibility for dental implants.
At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, Dr. Zirakian will take a 3D digital X-ray of your smile to determine the health and quality of your jaw. If you need a sinus lift, he will use one of two procedural methods.
Direct Sinus Lift
When patients require a substantial amount of bone structure, Dr. Zirakian often uses the direct method.
This procedure involves creating a small opening in your upper jaw, almost like a window to your sinuses. Then, with specialized dental tools, he will carefully push the sinus membrane upward and out of the way. Immediately after, he’ll fill the empty space with bone grafting material. This facilitates bone growth and creates enough bone for an implant to secure into.
After a period of healing, your jaw will become fuller and denser, allowing Dr. Zirakian to place your implants. In most cases, a direct sinus lift is only necessary for conventional dental implant placement, not for mini dental implants.
Indirect Sinus Lift
For patients with less bone loss, Dr. Zirakian will likely use an indirect sinus lift.
Often called a “sinus bump,” this procedure is much less invasive. Instead of creating a window to your sinuses, Dr. Zirakian will simply drill a hole where your future implant would go to access your sinus membrane. Then, using a specialized dental tool, he will gently lift the sinus upwards, creating room for your implant.
After filling the empty space with bone grafting material, he’ll place an implant immediately!
The Amazing Benefits of Mini Dental Implants
In some cases, mini dental implants may not require a sinus lift procedure. This can even be true for patients like you with lost bone structure! However, when mini implants do call for a sinus lift, Dr. Zirakian often uses the minimally invasive sinus bump instead of a direct sinus lift.
This is thanks to the sleek design of mini implants, which are almost half the size of their conventional counterparts. Their smaller size provides many incredible advantages, such as:
- Faster healing: In contrast to conventional dental implants, mini implants require a much less invasive procedure. This placement process minimizes tissue damage surrounding your implant, facilitating faster healing. Rather than waiting 4 to 5 months, you can have your stable smile in weeks!
- Immediate stability: Due to their minimally invasive procedure and unique threaded design, mini implants immediately stabilize in your jawbone. As soon as the implants secure in your jaw, Dr. Zirakian will anchor a temporary yet functional restoration.
- More affordable: With a small one-piece design, fewer appointments, and minimal additional procedures, mini implants are a more affordable alternative to conventional dental implants.
Book a Free Consultation At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center Today!
For patients with minimal jawbone structure, Dr. Zirakian recommends mini dental implants! Often, these implants allow patients to forgo a sinus lift or bone grafting procedure entirely. When that’s not possible, Dr. Zirakian can usually use a sinus bump instead, providing a minimally invasive method for restoring your jawbone structure. Book a free consultation at East Longmeadow Family Dental Center to determine if you require a sinus lift and learn about the treatment options available with Dr. Zirakian.
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