If you’ve been told you need a sinus lift, a bone graft, or both before dental implants can proceed, you’re not alone. For many people in the Hills District who are missing upper back teeth, insufficient jaw bone is one of the most common reasons implant treatment requires an extra step.
At Infinity Dental Care, Dr Jack Yang, an ICOI Fellow (International Congress of Oral Implantologists) with a special interest in implant dentistry, performs oral surgery, including bone grafting procedures, at our Winston Hills and Castle Hill clinics. To learn more about dental implants at our clinic, including how bone volume is assessed before treatment. The team takes a planned, staged approach, making sure each step is explained before anything proceeds.
Quick Overview
A sinus lift and bone graft are surgical procedures used to build up bone volume in the upper jaw before dental implants can be placed. They are commonly recommended when the existing bone is too thin or the maxillary sinuses sit too close to the upper teeth. Both procedures are well-established, and a 2023 study published in BioMed Research International reported a graft success rate of 98.3% and implant survival rate of 97.2% across more than 470 sinus augmentation cases. Individual outcomes vary depending on bone height, health history, and other factors.
What Is a Sinus Lift and Why Is It Needed?
A sinus lift (also called sinus augmentation) is a surgical procedure that adds bone to the upper jaw in the area of the molars and premolars. The maxillary sinuses are air-filled spaces that sit just above the upper back teeth. When those teeth are lost, the sinus can expand downward, and the jaw bone can reduce in height, leaving insufficient bone for implant placement.
The procedure creates space between the jaw and the sinus membrane, then fills that space with bone graft material. Over a healing period of several months, the grafted bone integrates with the existing bone, building enough bone volume to support a dental implant.
Not everyone with missing upper teeth will need a sinus lift. Your dentist will assess your bone height using a CBCT scan before any recommendation is made. Implant placement is generally possible without a sinus lift when adequate existing bone remains.
What Is a Bone Graft?
A bone graft is a procedure that places bone material at a site where bone loss has occurred. This may be needed independently of a sinus lift, for example, following tooth extraction, gum disease, or trauma, or it may be performed as part of a sinus augmentation.
Bone graft material can come from several sources:
- Autogenous bone (your own natural bone, taken from another part of the jaw or body): considered the benchmark for bone regeneration
- Xenograft (processed bovine or animal bone): widely used and clinically well-supported
- Alloplastic materials (synthetic materials or ceramic-based substitutes)
The choice of graft material depends on the size of the bone deficiency, the surgical site, and your individual circumstances. Your dentist will discuss the options with you at your consultation.
A 2023 sinus augmentation study published in BioMed Research International analysed over 470 sinus grafting cases and found no statistically significant difference in success rates between autogenous, xenograft, and alloplastic materials, suggesting that modern bone substitutes can perform comparably to natural bone in sinus augmentation procedures. As with all surgical procedures, individual results vary.
How Does a Sinus Lift Procedure Work?
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia, with sedation options available for patients who experience dental anxiety.
The general steps involved in a lateral window sinus lift are:
- A small incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the sinus wall
- A small window is created in the bone
- The sinus membrane is gently lifted away from the sinus floor
- Bone graft material is placed into the space created beneath the membrane
- The gum tissue is closed, and the site is left to heal
Before any of this takes place, detailed 3D imaging is used to map the jaw bone, sinus anatomy, and available bone volume. At Infinity Dental Care, this is done using Cone Beam CT scanning, which gives the treating dentist a precise view of the surgical site before the procedure begins.
In some cases, the implant can be placed at the same time as the sinus lift. In others, the grafted bone is allowed to fully integrate first, typically over a period of four to nine months, before implant placement proceeds. Your dentist will outline which timing approach applies to your treatment plan at the planning stage.
What Is Recovery Like After Sinus Lift Surgery?
Recovery after a sinus lift or bone graft procedure follows a predictable pattern for most patients, though individual experience can vary.
In the days following surgery, it is normal to experience:
- Swelling of the gum tissue and face around the surgical site
- Some discomfort, which is typically managed with prescribed pain relief
- Minor nasal congestion or a small amount of bleeding from the nose
- Slight pressure or a sensation of fullness in the upper jaw area
Your dentist will provide post-operative care instructions and, in most cases, a course of antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. It is important to avoid blowing your nose or applying gentle pressure to the area, as this can disturb the sinus membrane during early healing.
Signs that may indicate a complication, which should be reported to your dentist promptly, include increased pain after the first few days, excessive bleeding, significant swelling, or signs of infection such as fever or inflammation that does not settle. Complications from sinus lift surgery can occur but are not common when the procedure is performed with thorough pre-surgical planning.
Most patients return to normal daily activity within a few days, though the full healing period for the grafted bone to integrate with the jaw bone takes considerably longer.
What Affects the Outcome of Sinus Lift and Bone Graft Procedures?
Several factors influence whether the grafted bone integrates well and whether implant placement is ultimately successful: 
- Residual bone height before surgery: Research indicates that patients with at least 4mm of existing bone at the surgical site tend to have higher success rates for both grafts and implants
- Overall oral health: Conditions such as gum disease or untreated infection at the surgical site can affect healing
- Smoking: Tobacco use is associated with a significantly higher implant failure risk in smokers, with meta-analysis data showing smokers have more than twice the failure risk of non-smokers in the upper jaw
- Medical history: Certain medications and systemic health conditions can affect bone healing. These are discussed during your consultation.
- Sinus membrane integrity: Accidental perforation of the sinus membrane during the procedure can occur; the 2023 study noted a graft success rate of 97.96% even in cases where membrane perforation occurred, indicating that experienced management of this complication does not necessarily compromise outcomes
A Considered Approach to Sinus Lift and Bone Graft Treatment
Sinus lift and bone graft procedures are not undertaken lightly. At Infinity Dental Care, the decision to recommend these procedures follows a thorough assessment, including CBCT imaging to evaluate your jaw bone structure and a detailed discussion of your treatment options, costs, and what the healing period involves. A consultation and detailed imaging are the starting point for assessing whether a sinus lift or bone graft is appropriate for your individual situation.
Dr Jack Yang and the team take a staged, planned approach to implant treatment. If a sinus lift or bone graft is part of your treatment plan, every step will be explained before anything is scheduled.
To find out whether bone grafting may be right for you, you’re welcome to learn more about bone grafting at Infinity Dental Care or book a consultation online at our Winston Hills or Castle Hill practice. You can also call us on (02) 9159 6237.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a sinus lift before every upper jaw dental implant?
No. A sinus lift is only recommended when there is insufficient bone height in the upper jaw to safely place an implant without entering the sinus cavity. Your dentist will assess your bone structure using 3D imaging before making any recommendations. Many patients who are missing upper back teeth do have enough existing bone for implant placement without this additional procedure.
How long does a sinus lift take to heal before implants can be placed?
This depends on the technique used and the amount of bone graft material required. In some cases, implants can be placed at the same time as the sinus lift. In others, a healing period of four to nine months is needed to allow the grafted bone to become fully integrated with the jaw before implant placement proceeds. Your dentist will outline the expected timeline based on your specific situation.
Is a sinus lift a painful procedure?
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, which is intended to minimise discomfort during the surgery itself. Post-operative discomfort, swelling, and nasal congestion are common in the days following the procedure and are typically managed with prescribed pain relief. The level of discomfort varies between individuals.
What is the difference between a sinus lift and a bone graft?
A sinus lift is a specific type of bone graft procedure performed in the upper jaw to create space beneath the sinus membrane. A bone graft, more broadly, refers to any procedure that adds bone material to an area of bone deficiency. This may be performed in the upper or lower jaw and for various reasons, including preparation for implants, treatment after tooth extraction, or management of bone loss from gum disease.
What bone graft materials are used, and are synthetic materials safe?
Graft material may come from your own bone, processed animal bone (most commonly bovine), or synthetic materials. There are several types of bone graft material, each with different properties and clinical applications. All materials used in clinical dentistry undergo regulatory assessment, and research has found no statistically significant difference in success rates between natural and synthetic options. Your dentist will recommend the most appropriate material for your situation.
Resources
Jamcoski, V.H., Faot, F., Marcello-Machado, R.M., Melo, A.C.M. and Fontão, F.N.G.K. (2023). ’15-Year Retrospective Study on the Success Rate of Maxillary Sinus Augmentation and Implants: Influence of Bone Substitute Type, Presurgical Bone Height, and Membrane Perforation during Sinus Lift’. BioMed Research International, 20 February. London: Hindawi. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36860810/
Colgate Oral Health Centre. (2024). ‘Sinus Lift Surgery: Answering Common Questions’. Colgate Oral Health Centre, December. New York, NY: Colgate-Palmolive Company. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/implants/sinus-lift
Mustapha, A.D., Salame, Z. and Chrcanovic, B.R. (2021). ‘Smoking and Dental Implants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis’. Medicina, 27 December. Basel: MDPI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8780868/
Krans, B. (2018). ‘Bone Graft: Purpose, Procedure, and Risks’. Healthline, 6 November. San Francisco, CA: Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/bone-graft