Guided Bone Regeneration / Sinus Lift

Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is a specialized procedure performed at a dental office, primarily used to prepare a patient’s jaw for a dental implant or to treat bone loss due to periodontal disease. The process is designed to stimulate the body to grow new bone where it’s needed.

In this procedure, a dentist or oral surgeon will first clean the area of any damaged tissue. Then, a bone graft material, often made from a synthetic substance or donor bone, is placed in the area where more bone mass is needed. This serves as a scaffold around which new bone can grow.

To protect the graft and direct the growth of new bone, a barrier membrane is placed over the graft material. This membrane also prevents soft tissue and bacteria from infiltrating the graft site, allowing the bone to grow undisturbed.

Over time, the bone graft material will be replaced by new, natural bone, providing a sturdy foundation for a dental implant or restoring lost bone due to periodontal disease.

It’s important to note that GBR is a complex procedure that requires careful planning and execution by a skilled dental professional. Post-procedure care is also crucial to ensure successful bone regeneration and healing.

A sinus lift, also known as sinus augmentation, is a surgical procedure performed in the field of dentistry to increase the amount of bone in the upper jaw, specifically in the area of your molars and premolars. This surgery is typically required when there isn’t enough bone height in the upper jaw, or the sinuses are too close to the jaw, for dental implants to be placed.

During a sinus lift procedure, the sinus membrane is carefully lifted upward and a bone graft material is inserted into the space between the sinus cavity and the upper jaw. This added bone graft material provides the necessary foundation for the placement of dental implants.

As with any surgical procedure, a sinus lift requires careful planning and preparation. It’s usually performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist. The healing process after a sinus lift takes several months as it allows for the grafted material to mesh with the bone.