Sinus Lift in Chișinău

We recommend this operation when an implant is needed in the side of the upper jaw and there is not enough bone height under the sinus. Most often these are patients who lost their upper chewing teeth long ago. The cause may be chronic infection or a difficult extraction. Others have a large sinus whose floor naturally sits low. The decision is not made from an ordinary X-ray but from a 3D scan: a CBCT scan shows the height and width of the bone, the thickness of the membrane and the condition of the sinus itself.

A healthy sinus is essential. With acute sinusitis, a markedly thickened membrane, cysts or polyps, you first need treatment from an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor, and only then do we plan the operation. We also postpone the operation for uncontrolled general illnesses, during radiotherapy in this area and while there is active inflammation in the mouth. Smoking does not rule out the operation, but it slows bone healing, so we discuss it with you in advance.

Not everyone needs this operation. If the bone height is sufficient or a short implant can be used, standard dental implant placement goes ahead without extra surgery. When the bone loses width rather than height, we use ridge bone grafting (rebuilding the width of the jaw bone). When all upper teeth are missing, the All-on-4 concept is sometimes chosen: the back implants are tilted to bypass the sinus and rely on the bone that is there. The surgeon explains which option suits you after the CBCT scan.

A closed lift together with implant placement usually takes about an hour. The open technique takes longer, especially if implants are placed on the same day or the operation is done on both sides. In the first days you may have a swollen cheek, slight bruising and a blocked nose, and these pass on their own. The graft needs several months to mature. Only then do we move on to implant-supported prosthetics: we attach the abutment, the connector between the implant and the crown, and then the crown itself. The surgeon gives exact timing based on your CBCT scan, because it depends on the volume of restored bone.

The most common complication of an open sinus lift is a tear in the sinus membrane. The surgeon closes a small tear with a special membrane during the operation, and with a large one the procedure is postponed. That is why precise planning from the CBCT scan and the surgeon's experience matter so much. These operations are performed by implant surgeon Roman Casian. He completed postgraduate training and earned a master's degree in periodontology at University College London (Eastman Dental Institute). He is a member of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and won the international MegaGen MegaMind competition for implant surgeons.

After the operation it is important not to raise the pressure in the sinus. For several weeks, do not blow your nose hard, sneeze with your mouth closed, dive or fly without your doctor's permission. A cold compress on the cheek in the first hours, soft cool food and giving up smoking all help. We prescribe medicines individually, and they must be taken exactly as directed. If you have severe pain, a fever or foul-smelling discharge from the nose, contact us immediately.