When the upper jaw bone has been lost behind the teeth (above the back molars), sinus lift surgery adds bone to the sinus floor so conventional dental implants can be placed afterward. An alternative when remote-anchorage options like trans-sinus implants aren't preferred.
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The maxillary sinuses are air-filled cavities above your upper teeth. When teeth in the back of the upper jaw are lost and not replaced for years, the bone above them resorbs (shrinks) and the sinus floor effectively drops. Patients who want dental implants in those positions often don't have enough vertical bone for conventional placement — a sinus lift adds bone to recreate the space.
There are two main approaches. The lateral window technique creates a small opening in the side wall of the sinus, gently lifts the sinus membrane, and adds bone graft material in the created space. The crestal technique (also called Summers' osteotome) approaches through the implant site itself and is used for smaller lifts. Both are well-documented surgical procedures with strong long-term outcomes.
After a sinus lift, the bone graft needs 6 to 9 months to integrate before implants can be placed. In some cases with adequate residual bone, the implant can be placed at the same time as the lift. For patients who don't want to wait for grafting, trans-sinus implants or zygomatic implants offer alternatives that skip the augmentation step entirely.
Sinus lifts typically follow this sequence over 6 to 12 months from consultation through implant placement.
Confirm bone availability, evaluate sinus anatomy, and discuss whether sinus lift is the right approach or whether trans-sinus or zygomatic implants would be better.
Under local anesthetic plus IV sedation (or GA for combined cases). The procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours per side. Bone graft material is added through the appropriate technique for your case.
6 to 9 months for the bone graft to integrate with existing bone. Temporary tooth replacement options discussed at the planning stage.
Once the augmented bone is stable, conventional implants are placed in the new bone — typically a routine implant procedure at this point.
After 3 to 6 months of implant healing, the final crown or bridge is fitted. Total timeline from sinus lift to permanent restoration is typically 12 to 18 months.
If your upper jaw bone is too thin for conventional implants, you have two paths forward. Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Sinus Lift + Conventional Implants | Trans-Sinus Implants |
|---|---|---|
| Bone graft required | ||
| Total treatment time | 12–18 months | 4–8 months |
| Number of surgical visits | 2 (lift + implant) | 1 |
| Same-day temporary teeth | ||
| Surgical complexity | Moderate | Higher (requires GA) |
| Outcome with severe atrophy | Depends on graft success | More predictable |
Common questions about sinus lift surgery.
Bring previous imaging if you have it. We'll do our own CBCT, walk through your bone status, and tell you honestly whether a sinus lift or a remote-anchorage approach is better for your case.