Hydraulic Sinus Condensing Vs Short Implants For Those With Upper Jawbone Loss
Have you just been informed that your upper jaw does not have ample bone to support standard dental implants? If so, you're not out of luck when it comes to revamping your smile. Hydraulic sinus condensing and short dental implants are both methods of dealing with this complication. Here is some information to help you decide which of these procedures is best for you.
The Processes
During hydraulic sinus condensing, a flap is cut in your gum to expose your jawbone. A small cutout is then made in the exposed jawbone, and the membrane surrounding your sinus cavity is gently separated from your sinus bone and lifted. Bone granules, either from yourself, a cadaver, or a cow, are packed into the space the membrane formerly occupied. While earlier methods of sinus lifting required months to heal before an implant could be placed in the new bone material, hydraulic condensing allows an implant to be placed immediately.
The procedure to have short dental implants placed in your mouth is very similar to the procedure required for standard dental implants, but short implants rely on a taper locking system as opposed to screws to hold the implant in place. During the procedure for short dental implants, your dental surgeon will cut an incision in your gum to expose your jawbone. He or she will then use a drill to create a hole in the jawbone in which to place the dental implant.
The incision will then be stitched closed while you wait for the implant to bond to your natural bone. Once healing is complete, you'll need to schedule another appointment. During this follow-up appointment, a small incision will be made in your gum to expose the implant, and a cap will be placed on it, thus completing the procedure.
The Success Rates
Hydraulic sinus condensing has an astounding success rate of 99.99 percent, with only 8 out of 1,557 implants failing during an 8 year study on their effectiveness. When upper jaw bone loss is severe, hydraulic this procedure provides the best chance for the successful placement of dental implants.
Short implants come in a range of sizes, and your dental implant specialist will choose for you the largest size that your jaw bone can support. Why? Because, generally speaking, the shorter the dental implant, the more apt it is to fail. The failure rate of short implant can be as high as 16 to 33 percent.
So Which Option Is Best For You?
Hydraulic sinus condensing is more invasive than having short implants placed and usually requires a longer healing time, but it also has a better success rate than a short dental implant procedure. Short dental implant, on the other hand, can be done under general anesthesia in less than an hour, but are more apt to fail than implants placed with the hydraulic sinus condensing technique.
Certain factors can up your risk of dental implants failing, including age, gender, oral habits, and systemic diseases. If you have any of these risk factors, it may be in your best interest to opt for the procedure that promises the best success rate. If you have only mild jaw bone loss, however, and no added risk factors, then you may be safe opting for the less invasive short dental implant procedure.
Just because you have jaw bone loss and aren't a candidate for traditional dental implants doesn't mean you don't have options when it comes to restoring your smile. Both hydraulic sinus condensing and short dental implants are often used as a method to compensate for deteriorated or naturally small jaw bones. Use the information above coupled with the advice of a dentist at a clinic like Schirmer Dentistry to determine which of these procedures is best for you.
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