What to Expect After Sinus Augmentation

If you lose a tooth, replacing it is essential for aesthetic reasons and your oral health. The gold standard for replacing a tooth is a dental implant, which consists of a metal post installed in your jawbone that can hold a crown, bridge, or set of dentures.

For the implant to work correctly, however, you must have enough high-quality jawbone to support the implant. That can be an issue with replacing teeth in the back of your upper jaw, just beneath your sinus cavity.

In cases like this, one solution is a sinus augmentation to raise your sinuses, creating room for a bone graft that provides sufficient density for the implant to hold.

This tooth replacement option is available at American Dental Clinic in San Diego, California. Here, our team shares what you can expect from this procedure.

How does sinus augmentation work?

If your upper jawbone needs strengthening to support an implant, we can perform sinus augmentation (or lift) to raise the sinus floor, creating a pocket of space for grafting new bone. This new, stronger bone serves as a foundation for your implant. 

We perform sinus augmentations in our office, usually with the patient under local anesthesia or IV sedation; we sometimes use general anesthesia. Sinus augmentations typically run 1-2 hours.

What’s recovery like?

You can go home after the procedure, but arrange for a family member or friend to drive you. For the first couple of days, you can expect mild swelling, minor discomfort, and bleeding (nosebleeds are possible).

For 2-3 weeks after the augmentation procedure, stick to a soft diet and avoid actions that might create suction in your mouth, such as using a straw or smoking. 

Also, avoid heavy lifting and vigorous activity during this time. You may also need a saline spray to keep your nose moist and an antimicrobial mouthwash to prevent infection.

Over the following 3-6 months, the bone graft material integrates with your natural jawbone. That builds a new, strong foundation to support the implant, usually installed 6-9 months after augmentation. The time frame depends on our assessment of your readiness.

If you’re in good overall health, your recovery may move more quickly. Following our directions for recovery can speed the process. If your graft is large or your case is complex, recovery may take longer.

If you’re missing a tooth in the upper back section of your mouth, you may need a sinus augmentation to start the replacement process. To learn more, book an appointment by phone or online today with the experienced team at American Dental Clinic.