Sinus Bone Grafting

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(949) 551-5902

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4330 Barranca Parkway, Suite 140
Irvine, CA 92604

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Sinus Bone Grafting Specialists in Orange County, Irvine and Newport Beach CA

One of the most frequently applied grafting procedures is the sinus bone graft.

As we get older, our sinuses grow larger in volume and literally take away valuable jaw bone, as the picture reveals below. This happens to almost everyone.

If teeth are lost in this area, it becomes difficult if not impossible to place dental implants in that area. To solve this problem, a bone-grafting method was developed. It raises the bottom of the sinus and allows bone to fill in where it once was, before the sinuses expanded. The procedure allows more space for implants.

This technique has been successfully used for over two decades and is considered a highly predictable method of bone grafting. The grafting material used is a combination of your own bone, donor bone (prepared so there is no risk of disease), and synthetic bone materials. The newly formed bone tissue will usually take about 4 to 9 months to mature.

Implants can sometimes be placed at the same time as the sinus bone grafting in one combined procedure, if enough bone below the sinus is available to stabilize the implant. If not enough bone is available, the sinus bone graft is performed first, then the new bone matures for several months and finally the implants are placed.

Sinus Elevation Procedure

With respect to the bone graft material used, there are several options:

* “Autograft”, or autogenous bone graft;

* “Allograft”, or allogenic bone graft;

* “Xenograft”, or xenogenic bone graft; and

* “Alloplast”, or alloplastic bone graft

The Autograft is considered the “gold standard”. It is when your own bone is taken from one location and placed somewhere else in your body. The best success rates in bone grafting occur with this method because your own living tissues and bone cells are intact. There is no immune reaction and the microscopic architecture is perfectly matched.

The only disadvantage of the autograft is that the bone must be taken from another site in your body. That usually means more post-operative discomfort and a more complicated surgery.

For most grafting purposes needed with dental implants, we can use bone from another part of the jaws (i.e., chin or back portions of jaw where the wisdom teeth were) as an acceptable donor site. This at least allows us to stay inside the mouth. Sometimes, however, when there is not enough bone available in the mouth, we must use bone from elsewhere in your body (usually from the top of your hip bone).

The Allograft is a bone graft between two individuals of the same species (i.e., humans) but of non-identical genetic composition. The source is cadaver bone that undergoes many different chemical treatment sequences to render it neutral to immune reactions and to avoid transmission of disease. These treatments may include irradiation, freeze-drying, acid washing and other chemical procedures. Between the prescreening of donors and the processing of the bone, the chance of cross-infection is nearly non-existent.

The Xenograft is a tissue graft between two different species (for instance, bone from a cow). This bone has a similar microscopic structure as human bone, and will allow for bone growth.

The Alloplast is synthetically derived bone graft material not coming from animal or human origin. Dr. Rice is well-versed in deciding the best type of bone graft material, based on your individual needs and the latest research in this field.