So, my #3 tooth (upper right first molar) had an old filling go bad, and after working on it off and on for a few years Dr. Crabtree decided it couldn't be saved and really needed to be removed. In December of '07, Dr. Ardary (my oral surgeon, and highly recommended) removed it, and we made plans to replace it with an implant.
There are sinuses running horizontally just above the tooth line in everyone's upper jaw called the maxillary sinus. In my case, the sinus ran very low in the area of the #3 tooth — so low that there wasn't sufficient bone depth to hold the implant post. The solution to this sorry state? A sinus augmentation, or sinus lift.
Here's a summary of the procedure: an incision is made at the site of the missing tooth; the sinus and its related tissue is lifted up and away; and bone graft material is used to fill in the resulting void.
The graft has to mature for 9 months or so before it is strong enough to accept the implant.
Last Thursday, I went in for my sinus lift. They can do it with either local or general anesthesia, but everyone I talked to - Dr. Crabtree, Jodie, the great RN at Dr. Ardary's office - told me (in no uncertain terms) to get the general. Justin was my driver, and did a great job.
So far, it's been three days of pain and suffering, but that's to be expected. Vicodin is a wonderful thing.
Hopefully by Monday I'll be back in form.
