sinus augmentation Portrait of smiling mid adult man with dentist holding dental tools at clinic

Sinus Augmentation: What to Expect

A sinus augmentation is a procedure a dental professional recommends getting, so you may receive dental implants. During the procedure, a periodontist from our practice at Vero Implants and Periodontics will add bone to the upper portion of your jaw. This procedure will enhance the strength and structure of your bone in cases where you lost or don’t have an adequate amount of bone to support your implants. Here’s what our periodontist in Vero Beach, FL, wants you to know about the procedure and what you can expect before, during, and after it.

Before the Sinus Augmentation

You’ll visit our office and our experts will conduct a thorough evaluation and perform a comprehensive review of your medical history. Once we decide this procedure is right for you, it’s time to determine where the bone for this bone graft will come from, which could include any of the following:

  • Bone from another portion of your mouth or body (autogenous bone)
  • Bovine bone (xenograft)
  • Cadaverous bone (allogenic bone)
  • Synthetic bone

During this portion of your procedure, your dental surgeon will also take measurements of your existing bone. In addition, your surgeon will evaluate your sinus cavity.

Based on the exam and your desires, the periodontist will give recommendations for the type of bone best for your situation.

You may receive either a sedative and a local or a general anesthetic during your procedure. We’ll discuss your desires and review your medical history to determine the ideal solution for you. You’ll receive patient education before you leave the office regarding what you need to do based on your chosen form of anesthesia.

During the Sinus Augmentation

You’ll come to our office because the entire process may be done in-office. If we’re taking bone from another place in your body, that’s usually the first part of your procedure.

Next, comes the actual sinus augmentation. For this, your surgeon will begin with making an incision in the gum tissue around your teeth to expose your jawbone. Then, they will cut the bone and fill it with the bone graft.

Once complete, the surgeon joins the skin using sutures.

After the Sinus Augmentation

Once you wake up from the anesthesia and we know you’re safe, you may return home. We ask that someone drives you home since you’ll likely be very groggy. If we can’t do dental implants on the same day, we’ll discuss when we can schedule your dental implants in Vero Beach at your appointment.

Recommendations and Restrictions

Initially, you want to avoid blowing your nose. You’ll also want to stop smoking before your procedure and immediately following it. Your body needs time to heal, and the chemicals in the tobacco can slow the healing process. The chemicals in tobacco can affect the clotting process and the act of smoking, in general, can affect clotting. Additionally, you should avoid exercise and strenuous activities at first to minimize bleeding. You should avoid drinking from a straw, too, because that can also cause excess bleeding.

Swelling

You may notice swelling immediately following the procedure. It usually peaks at 48 to 72 hours after the surgery. The swelling will then slowly decrease over time. To combat the swelling, you may use ice. We recommend you only use the ice pack for 20 minutes on and then at least 20 minutes off.

Bleeding

Bleeding following your procedure is normal and to be expected. Typically, the bleeding only lasts between three and four days. When you have bleeding, it can help to bite down on a piece of gauze for 30 minutes to encourage clotting. You’ll notice that the bleeding should get better over time. If you have excessive or prolonged bleeding, it’s best to contact the surgeon’s office. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence.

Pain

A little pain is normal immediately following your procedure. Depending on your situation, our periodontists in Vero Beach, FL, may prescribe a narcotic analgesic to take as needed for pain. Instead of a narcotic, though, you may take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as directed if your pain is more manageable.

Contact Vero Implants and Periodontics

At our Vero Beach office, we offer sinus augmentation amongst several other oral procedures. We tailor the process especially to your needs, and fortunately, it may only take an hour or so to complete. Plus, the recovery is rather simple. Contact our experts today at Vero Implants and Periodontics for your dental concerns or if you have questions about sinus augmentation.