Site Development

Site Development for Dental Implants

Site development describes several different procedures that are employed to optimize implant placement; these include:

• Sinus Augmentation - over time, it common for the maxillary (upper) sinuses to enlarge which results in inadequate bone height for implants to replaced the upper molars. If only a couple of millimeters of additional height are needed, the sinus can be pushed up at the time of implant placement; a procedure termed an internal sinus lift. However, the sinus enlargement is great, a stand alone sinus lift is required and the implant(s) are placed following regeneration of the sinus floor. This is termed a lateral window sinus lift.
• Ridge Modification - occasionally, there is too much jaw bone in an area and a ridge reduction is needed. However, more commonly the jawbone is inadequate, and lost bone must be regenerated with a procedure called Ridge Augmentation. As with sinus augmentation, this may be done at the time of implant placement, if the defect is slight, or it may be necessary to augment the ridge defect in a stand-alone procedure and the implant placed after reconstruction of the jaw.
• Ridge Preservation - there are several reasons that a ridge deformity may develop, such as periodontal disease, infection, trauma or injury. The most common cause of ridge resorption is healing from the extraction of a tooth. This can be prevented by adding a bone graft at the time of the extraction. Not only does this reduce the risk of developing a ridge defect but it stimulates the bone to heal quicker which reduces the overall treatment time for implant placement and tooth replacement.