Sinus Lift: When It Is Needed and How It Is Planned

What Is a Sinus Lift?

A sinus lift raises the membrane lining the floor of the maxillary sinus in a controlled way, to create bone support for an implant in the upper back jaw. Graft material is used where needed. It is not a treatment for bone loss in the lower jaw, and it is not a step required before every implant.

After tooth loss, the bone in that region and its relationship with the sinus can change. Whether a lift is needed is determined by assessing the planned implant position at examination and on appropriate imaging. Our sinus lift treatment page sets out the general options.

A sinus lift is an elective procedure. Cambridge University Hospitals states plainly that the decision to proceed is yours, after the alternatives have been discussed.

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Sinus lift

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SINUS LIFT

The back of the upper jaw — Bone height can reduce after tooth loss, and the position of the sinus can limit where an implant will go.
Open and crestal approaches — The membrane is reached through the side wall in the open approach, or through the implant site in the crestal one.
Raising the sinus floor — The membrane lining the sinus is carefully raised; depending on the technique, graft material may be placed.
Timing of the implant — If the remaining bone can stabilise the implant, the same session may be considered; if not, healing comes first.

What to keep in mind

Not every patient having an implant in the upper jaw needs a sinus lift.
In suitable cases short implants or a different prosthetic plan can be considered.
An implant in the same session does not mean a definitive tooth the same day.

Schematic illustration; it does not show real scale, a specific product or an individual result.

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External and Internal Approaches

In the lateral — external — approach, the sinus is reached from the cheek side. In the crestal — internal — approach, the work is done through the site being prepared for the implant. The method is not chosen on a single millimetre threshold; the amount of bone, the membrane and sinus anatomy, the gain required and the implant's initial stability are all assessed.

Whether the implant goes in at the same appointment depends on how much bone is already there, not simply on which approach is used. Cambridge University Hospitals describes three situations: an external approach where there is no existing bone, in which the implant is normally placed only after the graft has healed, at a second procedure; an external approach where some bone exists, in which the implant can be placed at the same time; and an internal approach where some bone exists, in which the implant is also placed at the same time.

So it is wrong to assume that the external approach always means a second visit, or that the internal approach always means an implant on the day.

Alternatives

A sinus lift is one option among several, and the alternatives are worth discussing before you commit. Cambridge University Hospitals lists short implants, where the risk of failure rises as implant length falls; placing fewer implants further forward, which avoids the sinus but concentrates biting forces through fewer implants; angled implants placed alongside the sinus, which the same source reports as having similar survival and success to conventional implants at five years; a conventional or resin-bonded bridge; a removable denture; zygomatic implants, which are more complex surgery and not offered by every surgeon; and, where enough functional teeth remain, simply accepting the gap.

Our article on implant options where bone is lost compares these in more detail.

Graft Materials

Graft material can come from your own body, from another human donor, from animal sources or from synthetic products. It acts as a scaffold for your own bone to grow into. Cambridge University Hospitals notes that this process may take four to 12 months, and that a resorbable membrane is often placed over the graft to protect it.

Widely used products include a bovine-derived bone substitute and a porcine-derived membrane. If you have concerns about animal-derived products, raise them before treatment so alternatives can be discussed. "Bone powder" does not describe one single product, and no material suits every situation.

Risks and Aftercare

The membrane can tear, and infection, graft loss or sinus symptoms can occur. Cambridge University Hospitals publishes the following figures for its patients: membrane perforation in about 19% of external and 3.8% of internal approaches; infection in about 2.9% and 0.8%; graft failure in about 1.9% of external cases; and insufficient bone for implant placement in about 1%. These are that centre's published figures, not a prediction for your own treatment.

If the membrane is torn, the surgeon may repair it or place a patch. If the repair does not hold, the procedure may be stopped and the site left to heal, with a second attempt later. It cannot be promised in advance that treatment will continue regardless.

Risk of graft failure is higher in some people, smokers in particular — see smoking and dental implants. Tell us beforehand about existing sinusitis and any nose or sinus complaints.

Expect some discomfort, swelling and bruising. Instructions on nose blowing, sneezing, flying and other activities involving pressure change are given individually; Cambridge University Hospitals, for instance, advises its patients not to blow their nose for two weeks. Do not change your medication or care schedule on your own initiative.

Contact your treating team if pain or swelling increases rather than settles, or if you have fever, foul-smelling discharge, or the sensation of fluid passing between mouth and nose. Seek urgent help if you have difficulty breathing.

Timing of the Implant and the Final Teeth

Where the graft has to heal before the implant is placed, the wait is measured in months rather than weeks. Cambridge University Hospitals gives a range of six to 12 months from procedure to dental restoration, and notes it can be longer. Your own timetable depends on the extent of the procedure, whether the implant went in at the same appointment, and your review findings. The date of the final prosthesis becomes clear at review, not before. Our recovery timeline explains the stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does everyone need a sinus lift?

No. The region where the implant will sit and the prosthetic plan determine this, and the alternatives are assessed too.

How many months does healing take?

It depends on the extent of the procedure, whether the implant was placed at the same appointment, and your review findings. A single figure that applies to everyone cannot be given.

Is the procedure painful?

The anaesthetic plan provides pain control during the procedure. Discomfort and swelling can follow; pain management and aftercare are arranged individually.

When can I fly afterwards?

This is advised individually, because activities involving pressure change are handled according to the procedure performed and your healing. Ask before booking a return flight rather than assuming a fixed interval.

How do I find out the cost?

You can read our guide to what the fee covers, and write to us for an appointment and an individual plan.

Questions and Appointments

Write to us on WhatsApp to speak directly with Dr. Aykut Gürel about an assessment. International patient appointments are planned at Dentopol Ümraniye on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 09:00–18:00 Istanbul time.

Dr. Gürel speaks English. Written messages in other languages can be supported by translation; please confirm the availability of a spoken-language interpreter before your appointment. Treatment, follow-up and any transfer or accommodation arrangements are confirmed individually before you book travel.

References

Cambridge University Hospitals — Sinus lift procedures