Your oral surgeon may not immediately be able to put dental implants in your mouth; you may not have the appropriate structure or bone density to support these implants. Before you undergo a dental implant procedure, your oral surgeon may need to perform other preparatory surgeries that can help you better support the implants when you receive them. Sinus lifts and bone grafts are two things that your oral surgeon may need to do prior to dental implants.
The surgeon cannot put dental implants in your mouth when you do not have enough bone density and structure. Your oral health may have caused you to lose bone in your jaw or in other points in your mouth, and you may not currently be a candidate for dental implant surgery. However, that can always change, as your oral surgeon has measures that they may be able to take to better prepare you for this procedure.
What Is a Sinus Lift?
In a sinus lift, the surgeon will make an incision in the gum tissue near the affected teeth. The “lift” part of the procedure is when the surgeon raises the sinus membrane. There will be a resulting gap, and the surgeon will implant bone graft material to fill it. The additional bone will help support the implants and strengthen your mouth.
Depending on where you require the implants, you may be more likely to need a sinus lift. When the implants are placed in the back of your mouth, you will often need additional bone to support them because they are larger and denser. Even if you have not experienced significant bone loss in those parts of your mouth, you may still need a sinus lift.
Bone Grafts Before Dental Implants
Missing teeth can gradually cause the bone in your jaw to wear down and deteriorate. Chewing actually stimulates the jaw and releases substances that can sustain jaw health. When teeth are missing, the jaw is no longer stimulated and can degenerate. However, the surgeon cannot place dental implants in an area with sparse bone because they cannot be supported. Thus, you may need to have your jawbone augmented before receiving dental implants.
With a bone graft, the surgeon will take parts of bone from another part of your body, usually in your mouth. They will make an incision in your jaw and place the bone there. A surgeon may also use synthetic bone as the material for a graft. Once the area heals, you may have enough jawbone to support the implant.
Your oral surgeon will perform a comprehensive evaluation when you come into their office for initial treatment. They would determine whether you are currently a suitable candidate for dental implants or may need additional treatment before the procedure can be performed. If you still may not be a suitable candidate for the surgery, there are other options that the oral surgeon may use to help you get the new smile that you want and need.
Contact the Skilled South Jersey Oral Surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Today
To learn more about how dental implants may help you and improve your life, reach out to the South Jersey oral surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. You can schedule an initial comprehensive evaluation with one of our oral surgeons by calling us today at 856-582-4222 or by contacting us online. We have offices in Washington Township, Haddonfield, and Woolwich Township, New Jersey, and we proudly treat patients throughout South Jersey.