Bone Grafting

The back area of the upper jaw is in close proximity to the Maxillary sinuses. These are large empty areas in the upper jaw. The dentist will usually take a panoramic X-ray to view these areas.

If the teeth have been missing for a long time, the sinus may expand and destroy bone in the area. This makes it difficult or impossible to place dental implants. When a tooth is removed in the upper back area, the ridge begins to atrophy, as do other areas of the mouth. Additionally, the sinus expands and can destroy even more bone, as shown below.

There are various ways to graft the sinus and make the area ready for dental implant placement. One of the most common techniques is the "lateral window technique". This involves raising the gum tissue, then making a window in the side of the sinus cavity and grafting it with the patient’s own bone, or a bone substitute (see grafting materials for types of bone substitutes). It can take anywhere from 7 months to over 1 year before the implants can be placed in the grafted area.

In a Sinus lift procedure, a window is made on the side of the ridge, the area is prepared, and bone is placed in the sinuses to the desired amount. The window is closed, and the soft tissues are returned to their original position.

In this method, a small hole is made in the bone and a balloon filled with liquid is used to lift the membrane and create the space. The space is then filled with the patient's own bone or a bone substitute and allowed to heal before placement of dental implants.