Sinus Lift

A sinus lift adds bone to the upper back jaw so an implant has something to hold. Pearl32 Dentistry and Wellness in Laguna Hills does the graft and the implant in the same office. After an upper molar is lost, the sinus floor drops and the bone thins, sometimes to two or three millimeters. The graft raises the sinus membrane and fills the space underneath. Healing takes six to nine months before the implant goes in. Not every case needs one.

Why is the sinus in the way?

Because the maxillary sinus sits directly above the upper back teeth. The roots of the upper molars often push into its floor, and when a molar is lost, the sinus expands downward into that space while the ridge shrinks from the other side. Six months after an extraction you can be left with two to five millimeters of bone where an implant needs ten or more. A 3D cone beam scan measures that in our own office, so you see the number in millimeters before any plan is made.

Lateral window or crestal approach?

Two routes to the same space. The crestal approach goes through the implant site itself: we raise the sinus floor a few millimeters with instruments through the same opening and place the graft, often with the implant at the same visit. It suits cases with five to eight millimeters of existing bone. The lateral window approach opens a small access on the cheek side of the ridge, raises the sinus membrane under direct vision and fills a larger volume. It suits two to four millimeters of bone, and the implant usually waits.

How long does healing take?

Six to nine months before the implant is placed, for most lateral window grafts. The graft is a scaffold: your own bone grows through it and replaces it over that time, and it has to be solid before an implant can be screwed into it. A crestal lift with a simultaneous implant follows the usual implant timeline instead, where bone bonds to the implant over three to six months. We rescan before placing anything, so the decision rests on an image and not on a calendar. Read more about bone grafting.

What is the aftercare?

For two weeks, treat the sinus as if it were healing skin. Do not blow your nose. Sneeze with your mouth open, so the pressure has somewhere to go. Avoid straws, smoking, flying where you can, and lifting anything heavy. Sleep with your head raised for the first few nights. You may be given a decongestant and an antibiotic for a set number of days, and we tell you exactly how long. Expect swelling and some bruising on the cheek, and occasionally a few spots of blood from the nose on that side. That is expected, not a complication.

When can a sinus lift be avoided?

Sometimes, and we look for that first. Shorter implants, in the range of six to eight millimeters, work in bone that once would have needed a graft, provided the bone is dense and the bite is favorable. Tilting implants forward, in front of the sinus, is another route, and it is how many full arch cases are done without grafting the sinus at all. A crestal lift of two or three millimeters is also far less involved than a lateral window. We show you the options on your own scan, including which one takes longer. See our implant page for timelines.

What does a sinus lift cost in Laguna Hills?

We do not publish prices for sinus grafts. A crestal lift done with the implant and a lateral window graft with a membrane and a separate surgical visit are different procedures, and sedation is quoted separately. Your cost is quoted in writing, itemized, after an examination and a cone beam scan, with the implant and crown stages listed on the same page so nothing arrives later as a surprise.

We are in network with most major PPO plans and Delta Dental HMO. Third party financing is available and the practice is not the creditor, through CareCredit, Cherry, Sunbit and Happen Bank (formerly LendingClub). See financing or call (949) 830-0074.

Questions people ask about sinus Lift

Does a sinus lift hurt?

The surgery is done under local anesthetic, with nitrous oxide, oral sedation or IV sedation available. Afterward, most people describe pressure and swelling rather than sharp pain, and ibuprofen with acetaminophen usually covers it for three to four days. The cheek swells more than you expect on day two. Ice on day one and day two, then warm compresses, makes a noticeable difference.

What if the sinus membrane tears?

It happens in a minority of lateral window cases, and it is usually managed in the same visit. A small tear is patched with a collagen membrane and the graft goes ahead. A large tear means we stop, close the site and let it heal for two to three months before trying again. That is a delay, not a failure, and we would rather delay than graft into a hole.

Where does the graft material come from?

Most often from processed human donor bone or from bovine mineral, both sterilized and documented over decades. Synthetic options are available if you prefer, and your own bone can be collected during the surgery and mixed in. We tell you which material we plan to use and why, before the appointment, and you can say no to any of them.

Can I have an implant and a sinus lift on the same day?

Yes, when there are at least five millimeters of existing bone to hold the implant steady while it heals. Below that, the implant has nothing to grip, so we graft first and place the implant six to nine months later. The cone beam scan measures this before we book anything, so the plan is not decided in the chair.

Will it affect my sinuses or my breathing?

A healthy sinus tolerates the graft well, and the lining recovers. You may feel congested on that side for a week or two. Tell us in advance if you have chronic sinus problems, nasal polyps or frequent sinus infections, because those are treated first, sometimes with an ear, nose and throat physician, before we graft.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. What is right for you can only be decided after an examination.