A sinus lift is a procedure that Dr. Mizrahi performs to elevate your sinuses and create more space for your upper jaw to accommodate dental implants. It’s a type of bone graft, and it can help give your upper jaw a more suitable foundation for your implants, which, in turn, help them last longer and function more effectively.

There are many reasons why Dr. Mizrahi might need to elevate your sinuses before placing your dental implants. The upper jaw tends to be less voluminous than the lower jaw, so for many patients, their natural anatomy simply can’t support dental implants. In those cases, Dr. Mizrahi needs to elevate the sinus in order to graft more bone material onto the upper jaw to create a solid foundation for the implants. This can also help patients who have suffered significant bone loss in their jaw due to having missing teeth for too long a period of time. Other times, it isn’t safe for Dr. Mizrahi to place an implant because a patient’s maxillary sinuses are too close to their upper jaw. In these instances, a sinus lift can reduce some of the risk of the dental implant interfering with the sinuses.

Dr. Mizrahi starts by making a precise surgical incision to expose the underlying bone in the gum tissue where your missing teeth used to be. She then cuts a small window in that bone to access the sinus membrane on the other side and carefully elevates the membrane away from your jaw.  If you have enough healthy tissue between the bottom of your sinuses and your jawbone to support your implant, Dr. Mizrahi can place your implant at that time. If your jaw needs more healthy bone tissue, she performs a bone graft on the area. Once the bone has fused and matured, which typically takes four to nine months, Dr. Mizrahi can then place your dental implants. If you need to increase the height or width of your jawbone to safely have your implants placed, Dr. Mizrahi can perform a ridge expansion in conjunction with your sinus lift.

You’ll likely experience some swelling and bleeding from your mouth or nose in the days immediately following your procedure. Dr. Mizrahi prescribes pain medication for you to alleviate any discomfort you might have and also gives you antibiotics to fight against any potential infection. You’ll need to avoid blowing your nose and forcefully sneezing during the early stages of your recovery, since the pressure created in your sinuses can loosen your surgical stitches and the bone graft material.