Sinus Lifts
before
after
The key to success of a dental implant is the quantity and quality of bone that remains after the loss of a tooth. Due to its proximity to your sinuses, the rear upper jawbone is regarded as one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants. Why is this so?
Sinuses essentially function as airways allowing air to pass, much like an empty room. Some of the roots in your upper teeth extend up into your sinuses. When these teeth are removed, only a thin wall of bone separates your sinus cavity from your mouth. As this bone heals following tooth removal, the sinus expands in size, further reducing the bone available for placement of dental implants. Fortunately, this problem can be corrected with a sinus lift procedure.
Dental implants need an adequate amount of bone to hold them in place. When the sinus expands following tooth removal, only a small amount of bone remains behind. If a dental implant is placed in such a location, much of the implant will be surrounded by the hollow sinus instead of strong supporting bone. With a sinus lift procedure, bone is added to the sinus to increase support for dental implants. The procedure takes less than two hours and may be accomplished with simple local anesthetic, just like when you get a filling on a tooth.
Dr. Holtzclaw uses a state-of-the-art piezoelectric surgical unit when performing sinus lifts. This technology improves the success rate of sinus lifts, as reported by Dr. Holtzclaw and colleagues in a study he recently co-authored in the Journal of Periodontology (the official journal of the American Academy of Periodontology). Dr. Holtzclaw’s study is frequently referenced in many sinus lift articles and major lecture presentations.
When complex surgical procedures are required to improve your oral health, you can count on Dr. Holtzclaw to do the job safely and properly. For more information regarding sinus lifts to facilitate the placement of dental implants, call Dr. Holtzclaw and the Lone Star Periodontics team at 512-453-1600 to schedule a consultation appointment.
Lone Star Periodontics & Dental Implants. Dan Holtzclaw, DDS, MS. Board certified periodontist and dental implant surgeon. 711 W. 38th Street, Suite G5. Austin, TX 78705. 512-453-1600