Dental Implants and Sinus Problems
BY Brian Hinds
A dental implant is simply, "an artificial tooth root that a periodontist places into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge." Dental implants both look and feel very natural and are an excellent choice for patients who have lost one or more teeth due to an accident, an injury, periodontal disease, etc. However they are best for patients who are in relatively good health and also those with good oral health and hygiene.
Two of the factors that play an important role in whether or not dental implant surgery is a success or not are the quality and the quantity of the existing bone where the implant is to be positioned. How healthy is the bone? How much bone is there to work with? How healthy overall is the patient to begin with? As a general rule, it is the upper back jaw that has always been one of the most difficult places to position dental implants. This is the case because the jaw is so close to the sinus cavities and there is a lack of adequate bone for those who have suffered from tooth loss or periodontal disease. Less bone to work with could make it impossible (or next to impossible) for dental implants to be placed in this area of the mouth. Chronic sinus problems also pose a serious concern as well because they can lead to inflammation in the area and sometimes infections which can also make the chance of dental implant surgery being a success very minimal.
A procedure known as sinus augmentation can help remedy this unfortunate problem and can make dental implants a possibility for a patient. This procedure can be done by "raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants." More than one technique can be employed by a dentist to raise the sinus floor and allow for the new formation of bone. In one of the most common of all of the techniques, the dentist makes an incision that allows the bone to be exposed and he then cuts into the bone with a small circle pattern. This small circular piece of bone is then placed delicately into the sinus cavity and the space that is to be found underneath the sinus is filled in with material from the bone graft. Grafting is an essential part of the sinus augmentation procedure as it makes it possible for bone and tissue to regenerate itself. Discuss with your dentist what options you have in regards to material that can be used for the grafting part of the procedure. Armed with relevant information, this will allow you as the patient to make the best decision possible as it relates to your particular situation.
After the periodontist has finished grafting the incision is closed up and then healing can begin. Not everyone heals at the same rate but generally the bone needs anywhere from four months to a year to heal itself properly before implants can be put in. Once dental implant surgery has taken place, the patient's mouth needs time to heal once again. There are some cases in which implants can be placed in the mouth at the same time that sinus augmentation takes place but this is not a common thing for periodontists to do. Sinus augmentation has been shown to greatly improve the success rate of implants for patients with sinus and other related health problems. Most patients report only a small degree of pain and discomfort during and following the surgery.
Did you find this article useful? You can learn a lot more about Dental Implants at http://www.dental-tooth-implant.com
ABOUTH THE AUTHOR
Brian Hinds has a special interest in Dental Implant procedures and health related topics. In his spare time he runs an informational website on Dental Implants helping people educate themselves enabling them to make an informed decision on all aspects of Dental Implants including the benefits, risks and costs. for more information Visit http://dental-tooth-implant.com
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