摘要 |
An apparatus and method by which a sinus lift operation can be continued even when there is a tear in the Schneiderian membrane covering the floor of the sinus cavity. A channel is created through the maxillary bone of a patient in an edentulous region where a dental implant is to be installed. A balloon is then inserted into the channel such that its closed end extends into the sinus cavity, then its open end or lips are adjacent the open end of the channel at the surface of the dental crest. The lips are then fastened to the dental crest, for example, by adhesive. Bone chips and bone fragments are inserted into the balloon such that a lower portion of the sinus cavity is filled with the balloon portion that contains bone chips. Bone chips continue to be inserted into the balloon until the channel leading to the dental crest is completely filled with the bone chips. At this point, the crest is closed and time is allowed to pass so that the bone fragments can fuse with each other and with the surrounding bone. This creates additional bone in the edentulous region which will accommodate dental implants.
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