A sinus lift is recommended when a patient lacks sufficient bone height in the upper jaw to securely place a dental implant. This is more common than many people realize. According to research published in PubMed, the jaw can lose between 29% and 63% of its horizontal bone volume within just six months of a tooth extraction. After a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone can begin to resorb, and the sinus cavity may expand downward over time, leaving even less room for an implant. Patients who have been missing upper back teeth for a while, those who have experienced bone loss from gum disease, or individuals who simply have naturally low sinus floors are typically the best candidates for this procedure.
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The surgery involves gently lifting the sinus membrane and placing bone graft material in the space between the jaw and the sinus floor. Over the following months, the graft integrates with your natural bone, building up the height and density needed to support an implant. Sinus lift surgery is one of the most routinely performed preparatory surgeries in implant dentistry, and patients are often surprised by how straightforward the experience is.