Upper-jaw implant prep (often confused)

Bone grafting is considered when the available bone at the planned implant site needs to be increased. The amount of existing bone is used to group the sinus-lift options.

A sinus lift is an upper-jaw procedure that lifts the sinus lining away from the jaw and places bone below it. In an internal approach, this can happen through the implant preparation site.

With an external approach where no bone is present, the implant is not normally placed until the grafted bone heals, so another surgical procedure is needed for the implant.

After an external sinus lift, the graft is allowed to integrate with the jaw bone before implants are placed. This can take four to nine months, depending on the amount of bone required and graft material.

Shorter implants can avoid a sinus lift when enough bone is available, but implant-failure risk increases as implant length decreases. The source also notes potentially higher complication risk with shorter implants than with longer implants in sinus-augmented sites.

Alternatives include angled implants, zygomatic or pterygoid implants, bridges, removable dentures, and leaving a space when enough functional teeth remain. A shorter implant can avoid a sinus lift if sufficient bone is already present.

The amount of existing bone at the planned implant site is the first divider. It determines whether an external or internal sinus approach is considered and whether implant placement can occur at the same time.