The sinus sits immediately above the upper back teeth, and once those teeth have been gone a while there is often not enough bone height left for an implant. A sinus lift creates that height. In the upper back jaw the sinus sits close to the roots, and when bone has thinned after tooth loss a sinus lift raises the sinus floor and adds graft material so an implant can be placed securely, a procedure that may be done in advance or at the same time as the implant.
Situations that lead to sinus lift for upper implants
- Planning implants for upper back teeth
- Bone height shown as insufficient on a 3D scan
- Upper molars lost several years ago
- A previous implant attempt that was not possible
- Wanting fixed teeth rather than a denture in the upper jaw
What the plan may involve
- Internal lift performed through the implant site
- Lateral window approach for greater height
- Grafting and implant placement at the same visit where possible
- Staged treatment with healing before implant placement
- Choosing a different implant position that avoids the sinus
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Complication and survival figures for sinus augmentation
The most common complication of a lateral-window sinus lift is a tear in the sinus membrane, reported in anywhere from 7 to 56 percent of procedures, and in 24 percent in one recent study. A tear that is repaired at the time does not appear to change the outcome: a meta-analysis found implant survival of 97.7 percent when the membrane stayed intact and 97.1 percent when it was perforated and repaired.
Long-term results are good but not perfect. A fifteen-year retrospective review of 289 implants placed after lateral-window lifts reported 92.9 percent survival.
Common questions
Sinus Lift for Upper Implants: questions people ask
Is a sinus lift painful?
It is done under local anesthetic with sedation available. Most people describe the recovery as comparable to a surgical extraction: swelling and discomfort for a few days.
Why did I need this when my friend did not?
Sinus anatomy and bone height vary considerably between people, and bone resorbs after teeth are lost. It is determined by your 3D scan, not by the treatment itself.
How long before the implant can be placed?
Sometimes the implant goes in at the same time; larger lifts usually need a healing period first. Ask which applies to your case and how long it adds.
Are there alternatives?
Sometimes shorter implants, angled placement, or a different tooth-replacement option avoid it. Ask what the alternatives are and why the recommended plan was chosen.
Why do upper back teeth sometimes need a sinus lift?
The sinus sits immediately above the upper back teeth. Once those teeth have been gone a while, there is often not enough bone height left for an implant. A sinus lift creates that height. A 3D scan shows when bone height is insufficient.
What approaches are used for a sinus lift?
An internal lift performed through the implant site. A lateral window approach for greater height. Grafting and implant placement at the same visit where possible. Staged treatment with healing before implant placement. Or choosing a different implant position that avoids the sinus.