A sinus lift for dental implants is not a minor procedure and thought needs to be
given before you give consent to go ahead with the operation. This is because many
complications can and do arise from this procedure. The most common is the
perforation o the Schneiderian membrane which lines the floor of the sinus. It
occurs in 10-15% of cases.
Bleeding is also a common complication and occurs from the sinus membrane, the
infraorbital artery or via the posterior superior alveolar artery.
Post-operative infection occurs in 1 in 5 operations and are serious if antibiotics are
not working or if infection spreads along soft tissue planes.
Loss of implant into the sinus also occurs and the implant has to be removed. The
implant can also fail to osseointegrate.
Vertigo can also arise which is known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
Other eventful matters include antral or nasal penetration and damage of adjacent
teeth.
Immediately after the procedure, one can expect pain, swelling, and sinusitis.
Also there can be loss of sutures, hemosinus, nasal ecchymosis and hematoma.
Sensory or nerve disruption also is often reported such as temporary or permanent
palatal numbness and idiopathic neuralgia may occur.
Chronic symptoms can be related to an implant periapical lesion and postoperative
maxillary cyst/abscesses.
Dr Muzzafar Zaman 