While dental implants are becoming more popular for tooth restorations due to their excellent function and appearance, they do require certain elements to be in place. For successful dental implant surgery, there must be enough bone to support the implant in the jaw. If bone loss has occurred before or after tooth loss, the dental implant may not be able to be placed due to lack of support or jeopardy to the sinus cavity. Alveolar ridge augmentation and internal sinus elevation are two options to ensure a successful dental implant procedure.

Alveolar ridge augmentation is a bone grafting procedure that builds up the bone before dental implant surgery. This is often done when a tooth is extracted that will be replaced by a dental implant or can be done as a separate procedure. The procedure involves placing a bone graft into the socket where the tooth was lost to prevent bone deterioration before the dental implant can be placed.

Sinus Lift for Upper Molar Dental Implants

The back upper molars have roots that come in proximity to the maxilla or maxillary sinus cavity. When dental implants are used to replace these back molars, there must be enough jawbone in place and the sinus cavity must be high enough to insert the implant without damaging the maxilla. An internal sinus elevation or sinus lift uses a bone graft to heighten the jawbone and surgery to lift the bottom of the sinus cavity higher to avoid sinus problems from an upper dental implant.

If you are having teeth removed that you want to replace with a dental implant, consult our oral surgical experts before your procedure. It is simpler and less invasive to have a ridge augmentation done at the same time as your extraction if it is needed. We can also help if you need a sinus elevation for upper molar dental implants. Contact our office to schedule your consultation.