Sinus Lift for Implants: What It Is and What to Expect
A sinus lift is a short surgical procedure that adds bone under the sinus so an implant in your upper back jaw has enough support. If an X-ray or 3D scan shows thin bone there, a sinus lift is often what makes an implant possible. Most people recover in two to three weeks, and the implant is placed either at the same visit or after several months of healing, depending on how much bone you already have.
We are Mersal Dental, a family dental office in downtown Ottawa. We are accepting new patients, bill insurance directly, and accept CDCP and IFHP. This guide explains the procedure in plain language so you know what to ask at your consultation.
TL;DR
A sinus lift raises the floor of the maxillary sinus and fills the space with bone graft material, so an upper back implant has bone to hold it.
A sinus lift is one type of bone graft. A general bone graft can be done in the jaw anywhere, while a sinus lift is used only in the upper back jaw.
The implant can sometimes be placed at the same time. When bone is very thin, healing of four to nine months usually comes first.
Expect one to two days off normal activity, swelling that peaks around day two to three, and about two to three weeks to feel back to normal.
The main risk is a small tear in the sinus lining. It is usually repaired during surgery, and studies show implant success stays high.
Table of Contents
What a sinus lift is and why implants sometimes need one
Your maxillary sinuses are air-filled spaces on each side of the nose. They sit above the upper premolars and molars and below the eyes, and a thin membrane lines them, as Cambridge University Hospitals explains. In the upper back jaw, there is often only a thin layer of bone between the roots of your teeth and the sinus floor.
When a back tooth is lost, the bone under it tends to shrink over time. The sinus can also expand downward into the space. The result is a jaw that is too short in height for an implant. The American Academy of Periodontology notes that the upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the harder areas for implants because of limited bone quantity and quality and the closeness of the sinus.
A sinus lift (also called sinus augmentation) addresses this. McGill University’s oral and maxillofacial surgery department describes it as raising the sinus floor and adding bone graft material to create enough bone for an implant. The sinus itself is not removed or damaged on purpose. Its lining is lifted gently to make room.
Who may need one
You may need a sinus lift if:
You are missing one or more upper molars or premolars and want implants there.
You lost those teeth years ago and the bone has thinned.
Gum disease or a long-standing infection has reduced the bone.
You wore a removable upper denture for many years.
There is no fixed rule, but the FOR.org treatment guidelines list less than 4 to 6 mm of remaining vertical bone in the back of the upper jaw as an indication for sinus augmentation. Your dentist measures this on a scan, not by guesswork.
How a sinus lift is done
There are two main approaches. Which one fits you depends on how much bone height you have.
The lateral window approach
This is the approach used when more bone needs to be built. According to Cambridge University Hospitals, the surgeon opens a small window in the bone on the cheek side of the sinus. The sinus lining is gently pushed upward, bone graft material is packed into the space below, and the gum is closed with dissolvable stitches.
The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association recommends this lateral window technique when the bone deficiency is less than 6 mm in height, and describes it as predictable for gaining more than 4 mm of new bone height.
The internal (crestal) approach
When you already have a fair amount of bone, the sinus floor can be raised through the same site where the implant is prepared. Cambridge University Hospitals describes this as gently tapping the sinus floor upward. It is less invasive, and the implant can usually go in during the same visit.
What the graft is made of
The graft is a scaffold. Your own bone grows into it over time and gradually replaces it. Common sources include:
Your own bone (autogenous): taken from another site in your mouth or body.
Human donor bone (allograft): processed and sterilized.
Animal bone (xenograft): most commonly Bio-Oss, a sterilized bovine material, according to Cambridge University Hospitals.
Synthetic material (alloplast): a 2025 review of sinus-lift grafting materials notes that synthetic substitutes make up about 60% of the bone substitute market and carry no risk of viral transmission.
The same review explains that a sinus lift is a guided bone regeneration procedure, so the graft is usually covered with a membrane. This keeps soft tissue cells out and gives bone-forming cells room to work. If you have a preference about the source of the material, for example for dietary or religious reasons, tell us before the day of surgery.
Sinus lift vs. bone graft: what is the difference?
People often search these two terms as if they were alternatives. They are not. A sinus lift is a kind of bone graft, done in a specific place.
The Canadian Academy of Periodontology describes a sinus lift as an augmentation that increases bone height in the upper back jaw under the sinus. A general bone graft is the broader term for adding bone material where the jaw is too thin or too short, whether in an extraction socket, along the ridge, or under the sinus.
Sinus lift | Other bone grafts (socket or ridge) | |
Where | Upper back jaw, under the sinus | Any area of the upper or lower jaw |
Problem it solves | Not enough bone height because of the sinus | Not enough bone height or width |
Typical approach | Lateral window or internal (crestal) | Material placed in the socket or on top of the ridge |
Membrane | Often used over the graft | Often used over the graft |
In practice, you may need only one of these, or a combination. A graft placed in the socket when a tooth is removed can reduce later bone loss. If bone has already been lost in the upper back, a sinus lift is the usual route. For a closer look at graft timing in general, see our guide to the 4 to 9 month timeline for dental bone grafts. If you are unsure whether bone loss rules out implants, read can I get dental implants with bone loss.
Can the sinus lift and implant happen at the same time?
Sometimes, yes. Cambridge University Hospitals states that an implant can be placed at the same time with an internal approach, and with an external approach when some bone is already present. If the external approach is used and there is little or no existing bone, the implant is normally placed after the graft has healed, which can take 4 to 9 months.
The FOR.org guidelines give a working limit: around 4 mm of remaining vertical bone is the figure stated in the literature for a one-stage approach. Below that, a two-stage plan is the more common choice, because the implant needs enough bone to be held firmly from day one.
What the timeline can look like
Consultation and scan. Your dentist measures bone height and checks the health of your sinuses and gums.
Sinus lift. One visit, usually under local anesthetic, with sedation options discussed beforehand.
Healing. Four to twelve months for the bone to mature, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Cambridge University Hospitals puts the whole span from sinus lift to final restoration at six to twelve months, and sometimes longer.
Implant placement (if not done at the same time).
Final crown or bridge after the implant has fused with the bone.
For the steps after the graft, our single tooth implant timeline walks through each stage.
Sinus lift recovery: what to expect
Most people find this easier than they expected, but it helps to plan the first week.
The first days
McGill’s patient guidance says most patients take one to two days off normal activity. Swelling around the mouth, eyes and cheeks takes two to three days to fully develop. Cambridge University Hospitals adds that swelling is at its worst after about two days, that bruising can show over the cheek and lower jaw, and that simple pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol in the UK) usually control discomfort. Follow the medication advice your own dentist gives you, since the right choice depends on your health and other medications.
What to avoid
McGill advises the following for at least one week:
Do not blow your nose.
Do not use straws.
Do not smoke.
Do not rinse vigorously.
Sneeze with your mouth open, not closed.
Avoid air travel for at least two weeks, and skip strenuous exercise for two weeks. These steps protect the graft and the sinus lining while they settle. Pressure changes and forceful nose blowing can disturb the healing site.
Healing milestones
According to Cambridge University Hospitals, patients typically feel better once stitches are out at around 10 days, and feel back to normal after two to three weeks. The bone itself keeps maturing for months after you feel fine, so keep your follow-up visits.
Call your dentist right away if you have heavy bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure, a fever, swelling that keeps growing after day three, a foul taste or discharge, or pain that gets worse instead of better. Similar rules apply after any oral surgery. Our tooth extraction aftercare checklist covers the basics of keeping a surgical site clean, and our page on implant pain over the first 72 hours explains what normal soreness looks like.
Risks and success rates
Every surgery has risks, and you should hear them in full before you agree to treatment.
The most common is a small tear in the sinus membrane. Cambridge University Hospitals reports a 19% chance with the external approach and 3.8% with the internal approach. The surgeon either stitches the tear or places a protective patch over it. Other possible problems include swelling, pain, bleeding (including nosebleeds), a feeling of sinus fullness or blockage, numbness from the local anesthetic, and rarely temporary vertigo. The same page gives infection rates of 2.9% for the external approach and 0.8% for the internal approach.
The outcomes are encouraging:
A consensus review of 85 studies in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association found implant survival in grafted sinus bone between 88.6% and 100%, with a mean of 97.7%.
A 15-year retrospective study reported 98.3% success for grafts and 97.2% for implants. A membrane tear did not lower the success rate, with 97.96% graft success and 96.2% implant success in sinuses where it happened.
The same study found better results when the bone height before surgery was 4 mm or more.
In a study of 316 patients, the one-year and five-year implant survival rates were 95.4% and 94.4%.
The American Academy of Periodontology says sinus lift surgery has been shown to greatly increase the chance of successful implants, and that many patients feel only minimal discomfort during the procedure.
Tell your dentist before any sinus lift if you have ongoing sinus infections, allergies that cause heavy congestion, you smoke, or you have gum disease. Gum disease should be treated first, and our guide to dental implants with gum disease explains how that works.
What affects the cost of a sinus lift
Prices differ by clinic and by case, and we do not publish a fixed fee for this. What changes the total most:
Approach. An internal lift done with the implant is usually less involved than a lateral window lift.
Graft material. Your own bone, donor bone, animal-derived and synthetic materials are priced differently.
Scans and imaging. A 3D scan is often needed for planning.
Sedation. Local anesthetic alone or with added sedation.
One stage or two. A staged plan means a separate implant visit later.
The implant and crown. These are billed apart from the graft.
The only reliable number is a written treatment plan based on your own scan. Ask for it itemized so you can see each step. Coverage varies by plan, so bring your insurance details to the first visit and we will review what applies to you. We bill insurance directly, and we accept CDCP and IFHP for the services those programs cover.
Our perspective
Patients usually come to us because a back tooth is missing and they have been told there is not enough bone. That news is stressful, but it is rarely the end of the road. Modern planning, careful imaging and a clear step-by-step plan give most people a safe way forward. We believe the best results come from explaining everything before treatment starts: what each step involves, how long it takes, and what recovery feels like. Our team is experienced, gentle and focused on your comfort, and our multilingual staff can talk you through your plan in the language you are most at ease with. If your upper jaw needs more bone before an implant, we will look at your scan with you, go over the options without rushing, and help you decide on a timeline that fits your life. Our goal is a result that feels natural, works well and lasts for years. Mersal
Getting started with implants in downtown Ottawa
If you are missing an upper back tooth and want to know whether an implant is possible, the first step is an exam and a scan. We offer dental implants at our downtown Ottawa office. We accept new patients, bill insurance directly, accept CDCP and IFHP, and offer same-day treatment and emergency care when you are in pain.
Book a visit through Mersal Dental and bring any earlier X-rays or treatment notes. If a missing tooth is also causing pain, our emergency care can see you quickly, and if a damaged tooth needs to come out first, read about surgical tooth extraction.
FAQ
Is a sinus lift painful?
The procedure is done under local anesthetic, and many patients report minimal discomfort during it, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Afterward, expect soreness, swelling and some bruising for a few days. Pain is usually well controlled with over-the-counter medication your dentist recommends.
How long does a sinus lift take to heal before an implant?
It depends on the approach and your bone. When the implant goes in at the same time, healing happens around it. When the graft needs to mature first, the wait is typically 4 to 9 months, and the full span to the final tooth is often six to twelve months.
Is a sinus lift safe?
It is a well-established procedure with high reported implant success. The main risk is a small tear in the sinus lining, which the surgeon repairs during the operation. Your dentist will review your sinus health, medications and smoking habits before recommending it.
Can I avoid a sinus lift?
Sometimes, if your scan shows enough bone height, an implant can go in without one. Your dentist can also discuss other layouts based on your scan. The decision depends on your bone, so an exam and imaging come first.
Does insurance cover a sinus lift?
Coverage depends on your plan and on the procedure code. Bring your plan details to your consultation. We bill insurance directly and will explain what we can submit before treatment begins.
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