Creating a tooth implant in the lateral maxilla is often difficult. The reason for this is the rapidly diminishing bone with the resulting low vertical bone supply.
20 years ago Hilt Tatum first presented an operating technique that augmented the bone on offer through external elevation of the basis of the sinus. This method for the creation of sufficient bine supply for the anchoring of an implant remains a challenging operation that should only be performed by skilled operators. Otherwise the thin membrane (like the one on a raw egg) may rip.
After a successful sinus lift and 2-3 month of healing, implantation into the newly created bone supply is possible. Additionally this second operation also includes additional methods to augment the bone supply, like lateral and vertical bone grafting, bone splitting, bone spreading and different other membrane techniques, soft tissue management, papillary reconstruction and more to optimize the implant bed.
With an internal sinus lift (a big facial bone window is not necessary) the bottom of the sinus is also elevated. The free room inside the sinus is filled with autologous and artificial aumentation marterial. We always give our patients the comparison: "putting up the tent with poles, the inside will fill with bone as long as the membrane is uninjured". For a small sinus bottom elevation more than 2-3mm remaining hight are required.
Source: www.dr-prechtel.de
