A sinus lift, or sinus augmentation, adds bone height to the upper back jaw by gently raising the sinus membrane and placing bone graft material beneath it. It is needed when missing upper molars have left too little bone for dental implants. At SEDA Dental, sinus lifts are performed in-house by our periodontal specialists.
Upper back teeth are the usual reason: after they are lost, the sinus naturally expands downward while the bone shrinks, often leaving only a few millimeters, not enough for an implant. A sinus lift rebuilds that height.
Whether you need one is a measurement, not an opinion: the 3D scan gives the answer. Some patients need a smaller bone graft instead, and full-arch All-on-4 plans often angle implants to avoid the sinus entirely.
A sinus lift is part of your implant plan, and we present it that way: one clear, written treatment plan with insurance benefits verified up front. CareCredit monthly payments and the SEDA Smile Membership Plan help bridge whatever coverage does not reach.
The rules are simple and matter for about two weeks: do not blow your nose, sneeze with your mouth open, skip straws and smoking, and avoid heavy lifting. These protect the graft while it settles.
Swelling and mild congestion for a few days are normal, managed with medication. We check healing at follow-ups, and the graft quietly matures over the following months until implant day.
Less than its name suggests. The procedure is done fully numbed with sedation options, and most patients describe recovery as a few days of pressure and swelling, not sharp pain.
Typically four to nine months of graft maturation, depending on how much height was added. When existing bone allows, the implant goes in the same day as the lift.
No. The sinus keeps working exactly as before; it simply has a slightly smaller floor. Long-term sinus problems from a properly done lift are rare.
The main one is a small membrane tear during surgery, which is usually repaired on the spot and heals well. We review your specific risk profile from the 3D scan beforehand.
Sometimes. Short implants or angled full-arch placement can work around limited bone. When a lift is genuinely the better foundation, we will show you why on your scan.
Nothing dramatic, and that is the trap: the bone keeps thinning, and implant options narrow the longer the site sits empty.
