What is a sinus lift?

A sinus lift is carried out when there is not enough bone in the back part of the upper jaw. The maxillary sinus lies close to the jaw, which sometimes leaves too little room. During a sinus lift, the membrane lining the sinus is gently lifted. Bone material is then inserted to create height. This bone may be synthetic or taken from the patient's own body. After the procedure the bone needs several months to heal and integrate. Only then can an implant be placed. The treatment is usually performed under local anaesthetic. Swelling and some pain afterwards are normal but easily managed. A sinus lift increases the chances of successful implant placement in the upper jaw.