Before placing implants, patients quite often hear in the dental office that they need to lift the cavity. This is necessary if the patient does not have enough bone tissue.
Cavity lifting is a surgical operation, with the help of which bone tissue is grown in the upper jaw in the area of the side teeth. This is done when the patient needs a dental implant, but there is not enough bone tissue to accommodate the implants.
Sinus elevator methods
- The open sinus lift;
- closed sinus lift.
The task of both the first and the second method is to raise the base of the maxillary (Highmore) cavity and fill the resulting gap with bone material, which will allow the formation of its own bone tissue.
The open sinus lift
It is a classic method used in maxillofacial surgery. The entire open sinus lift operation is performed under local anesthesia, after which the gingiva is cut in the lateral part of the upper jaw, pushed aside in the area of the cavity, and an access hole is created on the bone. Then, through this opening, the mucous membrane covering the inside of the cavity, also called Schneider’s membrane, becomes accessible to the doctor. After that, with special surgical instruments, the dentist, being careful not to damage Schneider’s membrane, slightly lifts the mucous membrane of the cavity and fills it with bone material. Once the procedure is complete, the wound is sutured and it will take approximately 4-6 months for the bone tissue to fully form before the implant is placed. An open cavity lift is the only method of bone augmentation in the maxilla in many situations.
Closed sinus lift
The closed cavity lifting methodology is less traumatic because no special incisions are made in the gums. During this operation, all manipulations are performed through the opening intended for the insertion of the dental implant. With special surgical instruments, the doctor lifts Schneider’s membrane, creates an air cushion inside that prevents tears from forming, and then fills the resulting space with bone material.
An undoubted advantage of the closed cavity lift is as follows: if the initial bone volume was 3‒4 mm, the implant can be placed on the same day immediately after the augmentation operation. In addition, unlike an open cavity lift, there is practically no bruising and swelling after a closed cavity lift, and the overall recovery process is much easier and faster.
When should open sinus lift surgery be performed and when closed?
The open sinus lift is performed for those patients who have practically no bone tissue and the implant cannot be fixed. A closed cavity lift operation is necessary if the patient still has about 3‒4 mm of bone left. In any case, at first a complete medical examination, X-ray, and then the doctor will determine in what way it would be better to grow the bone.
Recommendations after surgery
Do not eat for two hours after the operation. It is forbidden to use sharp, hard, hot foods and drinks. Do not drink liquids with a straw;
After each meal, the mouth should be rinsed with a special antiseptic solution;
After the operation, it is strictly forbidden to inflate the cheeks, sneeze with the mouth closed, sniff the nose, because the membrane may break and all the bone material will come out;
Smoking, flying, swimming and diving should be avoided. Do not overheat or cool down;
If you have removable dentures, try not to wear them for the first two weeks after surgery.
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