Sinus Augmentation Procedure

The Sinus Augmentation is a procedure that is routinely being performed in many dental offices offering Implant Dentistry.  Unfortunately, the name of the procedure does not give its simplicity enough justice.  This procedure is usually a very quick grafting procedure with very few side effects, and very little post operative discomfort, as reported by numerous research articles.  The procedure is being performed from inside the mouth, so that there are no external scars visible.

Below is a collection of images illustrating a typical Sinus Augmentation.  Be aware that these images are somewhat graphic in nature.

The image above on the left shows the toothless or edentulous area.  In order for implants to be placed, we needed to augmented the sinus on that site.  The image on the right shows the bony ridge, once the tissues are reflected.

Above on the left you can see how the initial outline of the access window is prepared.  On the right we see how the window is ‘in-fractured’ into the sinus cavity (some surgeons prefer to remove the bony window).  The sinus membrane lining the inside of the sinus is kept intact so that the bone graft placed later stays confined.

The picture above on the left shows a close-up shot of the in-fractured window.  This window is then pushed upward, much like a trap door and the space underneath is then filled with bone graft material, as can be seen in the right image.  The whitish looking material is packed all the way to cover the window.

On the left you can see the tissues re-approximated to their original condition and re-sutured.  After ten days the sutures are removed and after 6 months (with this particular graft material) the implants can be placed.

Although not related to the surgical case above, below you can see "before" and "after" x-rays of a Sinus Augmentation done on both sides of the upper jaw, followed by implant placement six months later.  The small pin-like implants are transitional implants that support a temporary prosthesis while the other implants are integrating for another six months.  These will be removed later.  In the image below on the left you can see how close the bottom of both sinuses (outlined in white) are coming to the top of the upper jaw ridge (redrawn as a white line).  The image below on the right you can see the same jaw one year later with the new bone from the graft (between the black arrows) and the implants in place.