Bone augmentation for dental implants in the jaw
Sinus Lift and Bone Grafting for a Dental Implant
For the successful, long-lasting placement of dental implants, sufficient bone volume is essential.
In general, the stronger the bone, the better the support for the implant. However, if the bone does not meet the necessary requirements, its quality in the jawbone or sinus area can be improved before the actual implantation through various bone augmentation techniques, such as a sinus lift. The effort and cost involved in these procedures can vary significantly.
Bone loss in the jaw is usually caused by periodontitis, tooth loss, or the high chewing pressure on the sinus floor from a dental prosthesis. Other factors, such as genetics, general medical conditions, medication use, age, and habits like smoking, can also influence the extent of bone loss.
Bone Augmentation for a Dental Implant: Requirements
For optimal stability of dental implants, sufficient bone height and, depending on the implant, adequate bone width in the jaw are essential.
Reconstructing bone width is generally less challenging than increasing bone height.
In the lower jaw, bone density and quality are typically higher than in the upper jaw, which increases the chances of successful implantation. In the upper jaw, however, the protruding maxillary sinus often leaves insufficient natural bone to securely anchor a dental implant. In such cases, a procedure known as a sinus lift can provide the necessary bone support.
External Sinus Lift & Internal Sinus Lift
A sinus lift generally refers to the surgical thickening or elevation of the sinus floor, with two main types distinguished: external (lateral) and internal (crestal) sinus lifts.
A sinus lift can only be performed in the upper jaw, where either the patient’s own bone or bone substitute material is surgically placed beneath the maxillary sinus. This creates increased bone height, which after a healing period of approximately 4 months provides sufficient support for a dental implant.
The external sinus lift is the more complex procedure, used when the existing bone height is very low and several millimeters of additional bone height need to be gained. This requires precise and careful exposure of the sinus wall to insert the bone material into the space between the sinus membrane and the bone.
The internal sinus lift is a minimally invasive procedure where access to the sinus floor is gained through the implant’s osteotomy (drilling) site. The advantage is that no second surgical site needs to be opened. However, this method also requires patience and high precision, especially since visibility through the small drilling hole can be limited.
Consultation on Sinus Lift & Bone Augmentation for Implants at KU64
To determine whether bone augmentation, such as a sinus lift, is necessary before your implant treatment, our jaw and implantology specialists are happy to advise you.
Do you have any questions?
Get in touch with us!
Schedule an appointment by phone at 030 8647320 for our Kurfürstendamm practice or 030 509304280 for our Berlin-Mitte practice. You can also book quickly and easily online via our appointment form, or simply send an email to info@ku64.de — we will be happy to get back to you!
