If you are about to lose some of your teeth through decay or advanced gum disease, you are probably wondering about having dental implants as a brilliant way to replace teeth as they are embedded into the jawbone and no one can tell they’re not your real teeth.

However, being able to have dental implants is dependent upon how healthy and strong your jawbone is.

If you have been missing teeth for some time, or you are a smoker or have had advanced gum disease, your jawbone may not be in as good condition as you would like. As soon as you lose teeth, the bone in the area of the lost tooth understands that it is no longer being used and begins to dissolve itself, releasing the nutrients from the bone back into the bloodstream for use elsewhere in the body.

It used to be that if your jawbone had deteriorated, due to one of the above reasons, your dentist would not be able to fit dental implants. However, at David Madruga in Marylebone, London, we use various techniques to rectify bone density issues.

Over the last decade or so, experimental dentists have come up with some brilliant ways to get around the thorny issue of the jawbone that can no longer support dental implants.

Sinus lifts in Marylebone

If you have been without teeth in your upper back jaw for some time, what tends to happen is that the sinus cavity starts extending downwards. The layer of bone becomes too thin to hold the entire length of the dental implant, which would not be able to cope with the pressures exerted during chewing, which can be up to 97kg or 220lbs.

The solution is to go into the large sinus cavity, gently push the lining upwards and then insert bone material into the gap between the lining and the bone. Bone material can either come from you as the patient, or from an animal source.

You then have to wait several weeks for the bone material to integrate with your jawbone and once it has done so, we can proceed with placing dental implants into the back of your jaw.

Dental implants are a viable tooth replacement option for many patients, yet their success and longevity is directly related to the quantity and quality of the jawbone that remains after a tooth is lost. The rear upper jawbone, in particular, is one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants because of its proximity to the sinuses.

Sinuses are essentially airways above your nose, which facilitate breathing. Some of the roots of your upper teeth reach into your sinuses. When these teeth are gone, only a thin bone divider parts your sinus cavity from your mouth. As this bone heals, the sinus increases in size, further decreasing the bone available for implant surgery. Fortunately, this process can be halted with a sinus lift operation.

Experienced implant dentist, Dr David Madruga in Marylebone, performs all types dental implant supporting procedures including sinus lift surgery. Dr Madruga has undergone extensive post-graduate training in order to carry out a sinus lift procedure. His knowledge and experience ensure the high success rates of the treatment in our practice. Unlike other dental procedures, a sinus lift is a complex surgical procedure and not without risks, therefore, it should not be performed by dentists without the appropriate training.

Understanding the necessity of a sinus lift

Patients who wish to replace missing teeth with dental implants in the upper arch at the back of their mouth, often find that there is no sufficient bone in the area. Dental implants need an adequate amount of bone tissue to hold them securely in place and fuse with the jawbone.

A sinus lift operation artificially increases the bone in the upper arch where the sinuses are located. If there is not enough bone for dental implants, the floor of the sinus cavity is raised in order to create more depth.

A sinus lift always precedes implant operation and can make the implant placement possible. This way, people with bone loss can enjoy the multiple benefits of dental implants.

Get in touch

If you want to know more about sinus lift surgery and dental implants in Marylebone, please contact us today. During your consultation appointment, a dental 3D scan will determine whether you require a sinus lift or not.

If you have been missing teeth in your upper jaw for some time, you may have been told you are not suitable for dental implants because you don’t have enough bone volume. The good news is that this may not be the full story. In many cases it is possible to have dental implants in your top jaw even if you have experienced bone loss – you will just need a procedure called a sinus lift first.

Bone loss is a common side effect of losing teeth, because over time the bone beneath any gaps starts to resorb. In the upper jaw, it is common for the maxillary sinus spaces – above the upper jaw – to increase in size, reducing the height and density of the bone and making it hard to place dental implants. A sinus lift helps to build this bone up again, increasing the chances of a successful dental implant procedure.

Dr Madruga is highly experienced in performing sinus lifts, helping patients to get their confidence back in their smile. He accepts referrals from other dentists whose patients would benefit from this procedure, so if your dentist has told you you are not suitable for dental implants in your top jaw because of lack of bone volume, please ask to be referred to Dr Madruga for a consultation.

What is a sinus lift?

A sinus lift is an oral surgical procedure that extends into the sinus cavity above the jaw. It involves repositioning the lining of the sinus, making it higher so that bone graft material can then be packed into the space.

The graft material may be made from organic or synthetic compounds, or in some cases will use bone from another part of your body (most commonly the chin or the posterior part of the lower jaw). This material bonds with the surrounding tissue, forming a solid structure very similar to bone. After a healing period, the bone density will be checked and when it has reached adequate levels, your dental implants can be placed.