What is Sinus Augmentation?
Sinus augmentation is a bone grafting procedure performed for patients who need to increase bone density in the upper jaw. The goal of this process is to grow the bone on the floor of the upper jaw, which anchors the teeth. Sinus augmentation is performed in patients with more than one tooth missing, a large amount of jaw bone missing or teeth missing due to a congenital defect in the upper jaw.
Sinus augmentation surgery is performed under local anesthesia. Your surgeon makes an incision in the gums and gently pulls the gum tissue back. An oval window is cut in the buccal cortex (at the side of the cheeks) to uncover the sinus membrane. This membrane is separated from the bone to make a place for the bone graft material. The bone graft material is then placed at this location and helps the body to grow bone and form a thicker sinus floor.
Risk Factors with Sinus Augmentation
Some of the possible risks associated with the sinus augmentation procedure:
- Allergic reactions
- Swelling
- Hematoma
- Incisional complications
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Itching
- Pain
- Tissue or nerve damage.
