Dental Implant - Sinus Lift - Risky????

[cowboyneal]

I am scheduled off in the future for a dental implant. The doc said he had to do some kind of sinus thing, lift or something, because I need a bone graft. Now I am getting worried because I don't want to run the risk of a sinus injury that would result in my not being able to dive anymore. I can eat with one or two less teeth, but I'd be crushed if I couldn't dive anymore. Anyone or the docs here have any experience, opinion, advice or gauge of the risk (if any). Or, am I just being paranoid? Thanks!!!!

Cowboy Neal

 

[cowboyneal]

...anyone?

 

[Red Vette]

My dental implant has not been a problem, but don't know the specifics in comparsion to what is proposed for you

 

[Chad_Ordelheide]

Well, I am a dentist and I wouldn't worry about the whole sinus thing. Short term, it could be hastle for you. Long term, almost anything would heal up and not effect diving.!! I'm guessing your lacking enough bone to make the implant stable. Sometime our sinuses get larger and resorb the bone (the same bone we would have liked to have for the implant). What he will do is elevate the tissue in your sinus, pack some bone around the implant, then let everything heal. You will probably be on a few meds such as antibiotics, a decongestant such as sudafed, maybe a steroid to help it heal faster. After a few weeks you will be fine! I wouldn't plan a dive trip right after the surgery. I'd at least give it a month or so, talk to the dentist doing the surgery. You wouldn't want to compromise your Implant investment!! In my professional opinion, implants are great and long term you should be happy with it! (Even while diving ) If you have any more questions IM me!

 

[cowboyneal]

Thanks so much!!!!!! Yes, implants are a little expensive, but as far as I am concerned they are the way to go. I am not going to be on Poli-Grip and putting my teeth in a glass for 40 or more years (Doh!!!). I certainly wont plan any dive trips around or after the surgeries. In fact, I am going on a long one right before th sinus lift/bone graft thing just to get my ya-yas out. Thanks again - I feel much better. My dentist is great, but he doesn't know enough about diving to give me an informed opinion (other than pressre generalities) on the subject (actually it was refreshing that he admitted that)...

CN

 

[BurBunny]

Just completed a long implant process. Not involving the sinuses, but lower jaw and involving grafts. My periodontist/implant specialist is familiar with diving and asked that I take at least 4-6 weeks off diving after each surgical stage to make sure the healing was going properly. However, have had absolutely no problems and am so glad I did it rather than just lose the tooth.

 

[mike_s]

...anyone?

Have you checked your PM's? I sent you one about this a few days ago.

 

[LaiLaiDiver]

I know this is an older post, but I'm a 40-yr old female diver looking at replacing an upper tooth with either an implant or bridge. I have a consultation this week with an oral surgeon, and am hoping that in the case of an implant, I won't need anything in the way of a sinus lift, but in case he says I do, I wanted to be prepared. I'm very nervous at the prospect of any procedure involving my sinuses, as I plan to continue diving quite a bit in my future...

Cowboy Neal, if you're still on-board, did you proceed with this, and has it affected your diving? Anyone else have concerns or reassurances to share on implants and/or sinus lifts? I've read the article about implants by Dr. Stein, but just wanted to gather as much information on this, ideally from fellow divers with experience with this topic! Thanks!

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi LaiLaiDiver,

"cowboyneal" hasn't been an active member of this board for quite some time.

In the event that sinus lift augmentation is required for implantation, provided that the procedure is successful and without complication there is no reason to anticipate that future SCUBA will be precluded.

Obviously adequate time will be required for complete healing. The oral surgeon is the best position to advise on return to diving issues.

Helpful?

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

 

[LaiLaiDiver]

Thanks DocVinkingo.... I'm hoping to do my Divemaster course this summer (implant healing-time allowing, of course!), so this is a critical issue for me!

I was sort of starting to feel that if the sinus lift is required (I'll find out on Friday at the consultation), I'd be safer avoiding the whole thing and going with a bridge instead.... but do you truly feel it's a reasonably safe procedure, even considering I'm hoping to become more than a casual diver? Of course I'll consult the oral surgeon throughly, although I'm not sure how familiar he is with diving.

Thanks!