Is Gum Contouring Right for You?

Gum contouring is a perfect solution for patients who are unhappy with the proportions of their smile. You are an ideal candidate if you experience: A gummy smile where too much gum tissue shows when you smile, short-looking teeth that are of normal length but appear short because they are covered by excess gum tissue, or an uneven gum line where your gum line is asymmetrical, making your teeth appear to be different sizes.

Sinus Lifts & Bone Grafting: Get Approved for Dental Implants

What is Bone Grafting?

When you lose a tooth, the surrounding bone begins to melt away (resorb) because it is no longer being stimulated by the tooth root. If you wait too long to get implants, the bone may become too thin or soft to hold the implant screw.

Bone grafting is the process of adding bone material—either from your own body, a donor, or synthetic sources—to the jaw. Over a period of 3 to 6 months, your body accepts this material and turns it into hard, living bone. Think of it as pouring fresh concrete to create a stable foundation before building a house.

What is a Sinus Lift?

The "Sinus Lift" (or Sinus Augmentation) is a specific type of bone graft for the upper jaw.

Your maxillary sinuses are empty, air-filled spaces behind your cheeks and above your upper teeth. When upper teeth are lost, the sinus floor often collapses downward, leaving paper-thin bone.

To fix this, we gently "lift" the sinus membrane upward (like pushing up the roof of a tent) and pack bone graft material underneath it. This creates a safe, thick layer of bone where we can securely place your dental implants without touching the sinus cavity.

Comparison: Ridge Augmentation vs. Sinus Lift

While both procedures aim to build bone, they target different areas and problems.

Bone Grafting (Ridge Augmentation): Used anywhere in the mouth (upper or lower) to widen or heighten the jawbone ridge.
Sinus Lift: Used only in the back upper jaw to create vertical height between the mouth and the sinus cavity.

The Pros and Cons

The Benefits (Pros)	The Considerations (Cons)
Eligibility for Implants It turns "non-candidates" into candidates. It is often the only way to get fixed teeth in the upper jaw.	Longer Timeline It adds 3-6 months to your total treatment time while the bone hardens.
Facial Aesthetics Restores the natural contour of your jaw, preventing the "sunken face" look of denture wearers.	Additional Cost Because it is a separate surgical procedure with specialized materials, it increases the total treatment cost.
Long-Term Stability Ensures your implants have thick, healthy bone to grip, drastically reducing the risk of implant failure.	Sinus Precautions For sinus lifts, you must avoid blowing your nose or sneezing forcefully for a few weeks during healing.

Common Patient Concerns (and The Reality)

"Is it painful?" While the name sounds intimidating, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia or sedation. Most patients report only minor swelling and discomfort afterward, similar to a tooth extraction.

"Where does the bone come from?" We rarely need to take bone from your hip or other parts of your body anymore. We typically use processed sterile bone minerals (bovine or synthetic) that act as a scaffold. Your body's own cells climb onto this scaffold and replace it with your own natural bone over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the graft and the implant be done on the same day? Sometimes. If you have a little bit of stability, we can do a minor graft and place the implant simultaneously. However, if bone loss is severe (especially for sinus lifts), we usually let the graft heal for 4-6 months first to ensure a rock-solid foundation.

How long is the recovery? You can usually return to work within 1-2 days. However, the biological healing (osseointegration) takes 3-6 months. This waiting period is crucial for long-term success.

Will my face look different? Yes, in a good way! Bone loss causes the face to look "sunken" or collapsed. By rebuilding the bone, we often restore support to your lips and cheeks, providing a more youthful facial profile.

Ready to Rebuild Your Smile?

Don't let bone loss stop you from getting the permanent teeth you deserve. 90% of patients who were previously told they couldn't have implants can be treated successfully with these procedures.

Schedule your 3D CT Scan today to see exactly how much bone you have and how we can rebuild it.

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