Implants
Sinus lift
A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to the upper jaw beneath the sinus so there is enough height to hold a dental implant.
The roots of the upper back teeth sit close to the maxillary sinus, an air space in the cheek. When these teeth are lost, the bone can thin and the sinus floor can sag lower. A sinus lift, also called sinus augmentation, gently raises the sinus lining and places bone graft material in the space beneath it. A review in the NIH library says there are two main approaches to raising the sinus floor, a direct approach and an indirect approach. Once the graft heals, a dental implant can be placed, and sometimes both are done on the same day. Your dentist will talk with you about whether you need one. Read about maxillary sinus and bone grafting.