Sinus Lift Recovery Timeline
Dental implants are a great option for many people who are missing teeth. If you’ve suffered a loss of jawbone density due to tooth loss, you’ll need to undergo bone grafting in order to get dental implants placed. Bloomington, IL dentists Dr. Jay W. Chrisman and Dr. David D. Wyse can help with this process, and give you a healthy smile again.
When bone grafting is performed on the upper jaw around the molar and premolar area, the procedure is known as a sinus lift. Let’s focus on the recovery timeline after undergoing a sinus lift. This will give you a good idea of what the healing process entails.
What to Expect Immediately After Sinus Lift Surgery
Immediately after a sinus lift, patients can expect some amount of discomfort and soreness. This is normal, and can be managed by taking recommended pain relievers as directed.
Activities to Avoid
Here are a few activities to avoid after sinus lift, with some timeframes on when you can resume them:
- Do not touch or disturb the surgical site (even with your tongue) until you’ve fully healed
- Do not rinse your mouth for a day or two after surgery (follow post-op instructions)
- Avoid spitting for about a day after surgery
- Do not smoke until you are fully healed
- Do not use drinking straws until you are fully healed
The First Days After Sinus Lift
In the first days after sinus lift, patients should practice good oral hygiene. The day after oral surgery, they should brush gently around the treated area. The post-op diet should consist of liquids, smoothies, and very soft foods, chewing on the opposite site of the mouth if possible. After each meal, patients should rinse their mouth with warm salt water to keep their mouth sanitary.
Attend All Follow-Up Visits as Scheduled
There will be multiple follow-up visits with our Bloomington dentists to monitor the progress of your healing. These visits will be more frequent early on in the recovery process, becoming less frequent as the gum tissue and bone grafts heal.
Be sure to attend all of these follow-up visits as scheduled in the months to come.
The Weeks After Sinus Lift
As the weeks after surgery unfold, patients will be able to return to many of the activities that they used to do prior to sinus lift. Return to these activities gradually, following your dentist’s advice for proper aftercare.
If any issues arise, be sure to contact our practice as soon as possible so it can be addressed in a timely fashion.
The Months That Follow and Why They Matter
In the months after the initial sinus lift, t he bone grafts will fuse with your natural jawbone structure. This is crucial since it creates a stable foundation for the dental implants that will eventually be placed. It will take several months for this to happen, but it will allow you to get dental implants.
Placing the Dental Implants
Once the bone grafts have healed and created enough stable bone structure, you’ll be able to get dental implants. This will involve another oral surgery and another recovery process, but the benefits of dental implants will be worth the wait.
Contact Chrisman & Wyse
If you would like more information about sinus lift surgery and why it may be the right option for you and your needs, be sure to contact our team of cosmetic and restorative dentists. You can reach our Bloomington dental care center by phone at (309) 663-6393.
