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dental
Sinus Lift
Maxillary sinus floor augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the amount of bone in the posterior maxilla by lifting the Schneiderian membrane and placing a bone graft.
Quick Facts
- Price range
- Varies by clinic
- Recovery
- Varies
- Sessions
- Varies
- Category
- dental
- Anaesthesia
- Varies
- Min. stay abroad
- Varies
- Price Range (International)
- Varies by clinic
- Average Recovery
- Varies
- Typical Sessions
- Varies
- Category
- dental
Overview
A sinus lift, also known as maxillary sinus floor augmentation, sinus graft or sinus augmentation, is a surgical procedure that increases the amount of bone in the posterior (back) upper jaw by lifting the Schneiderian membrane that lines the sinus and placing a bone graft beneath it. It is most often done to create enough bone to support dental implants. After upper back teeth are lost, the jaw bone can shrink and the air-filled sinus cavity can expand (pneumatise) into the space, leaving too little bone for implants; sinus augmentation restores that bone volume and creates a stable foundation. Candidates include people who have lost one or more posterior upper teeth, have severe bone loss in that region, have congenitally missing teeth, or need implants in a fully edentulous upper jaw. Planning uses panoramic radiographs or cone-beam computed tomography to assess the sinus anatomy and rule out pathology. Two main techniques are used. The lateral (traditional) window technique creates a window in the side wall of the sinus, lifts the membrane and places graft material. The osteotome technique, developed by Hilt Tatum and later described by Robert B. Summers, uses a less invasive transcrestal approach with osteotomes but achieves more limited augmentation. Graft materials can be the patient's own bone (autograft), donor bone (allograft), animal-derived bone (xenograft) or synthetic material (alloplast). Long-term success of the lateral window technique is reported to exceed 90%, though Cochrane reviews report no clear evidence that sinus lifts reduce implant failure more than short implants.
Key Considerations
Common Risks
- Perforation of the Schneiderian (sinus) membrane
- Sinusitis
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Pain or bleeding
- Graft failure
Credentials a clinic should hold
Specialty-board certifications and facility-level accreditations relevant to this procedure. Verify on the issuer's public register before booking — most issuers publish a searchable directory.
ICOI Fellowship / Diplomate
Issuer International Congress of Oral Implantologists
Dentist-level credentialing in dental implant placement; tiered (Associate Fellow → Fellow → Diplomate) by case experience.
Verify on the issuer's register →National dental-council registration
Issuer Country-specific (e.g. GDC in UK, ADA in US, DCI in India, MOPH in Thailand)
Baseline registration with the country's statutory dental regulator. A non-negotiable minimum for any dental procedure.
Verify on the issuer's register →
Current clinical trials
Ongoing research studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov whose intervention involves sinus lift. This is a neutral pointer to public research — not an endorsement, not a recruitment drive, and not medical advice. Trial status changes often; confirm eligibility and current status with the study team via each record.
- Not yet recruitingInterventional· Started 2026-10-01Efficacy of Adjunctive Theravex Tissue Care® With Xenograft in Internal Sinus LiftingNCT07627633· Ain Shams University· Internal Sinus Lifting
- RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3Interventional· Started 2026-08-10Assessment of a New Enhanced Xenograft in Open Maxillary Sinus AugmentationNCT07737704· Misr International University· Maxillary Sinus Floor Augmentation, Maxillary Sinus Elevation, Bone Augmentation
- Not yet recruitingObservational· Started 2026-06Outcomes of Different Bone Graft Combinations for Maxillary Sinus Augmentation ProcedureNCT07512011· Ohio State University· Bone Grafting, Sinus Lifting
- Enrolling by invitationObservational· Started 2026-02-01Implant-related Outcomes in the Context of Maxillary Sinus LiftingNCT06647381· University of Bern· Dental Implants
- RecruitingInterventional· Started 2026-01-01Evaluation of Lateral Sinus Floor Elevation Using Xenograft Versus L-PRF Block Combined With XenograftNCT07677007· Gulf Medical University· Sinus Floor Augmentation, Maxillary Sinus Floor Elevation, Sinus Lift
- Not yet recruitingInterventional· Started 2025-10-15Efficacy of Bioactive Glass vs. Xenograft in Maxillary Sinus AugmentationNCT07125846· Suez Canal University· Alveolar Bone Loss, Maxillary Sinus Disease, Tooth Loss
Showing 6 recent ongoing studies. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — all matching trials (U.S. National Library of Medicine, public domain). Retrieved 2026-08-02.
Recovery Timeline
Average recovery for Sinus Lift is 0 days. Individual recovery varies — always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance.
- 01Day 0–1
Immediate
First 24–48 hours post-procedure. Monitoring, anaesthesia recovery, initial pain management. Most clinics expect you to remain on-site or nearby.
- 02Day 2–2
Early recovery
Wound care, swelling or bruising peaks, restricted activity. Typical window for follow-up visits and drain removal if applicable. Travel is usually not advised.
- 03Day 3–3
Intermediate recovery
Gradual return to non-strenuous daily activity. Many international patients fly home during this window. Surgeon may require medical clearance for long-haul travel.
- 04Day 4–0
Full recovery
Return to full activity, exercise, and work. Final results may still be settling. Final follow-up with local doctor recommended.
Healing after a sinus lift centres on the grafted bone integrating and maturing before implants can reliably be supported. Bone healing generally requires about three to six months, although in some cases implants can be placed at the same time as the graft. With the lateral window technique, healing before implant placement is often reported to take longer, in the range of about four to twelve months, depending on the graft material used and the individual case.
Questions to Ask Your Clinic
Browse all destinations offering Sinus Lift →Detailed cost breakdown →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sinus lift?
A sinus lift, or maxillary sinus floor augmentation, is a surgical procedure that adds bone to the back of the upper jaw by lifting the Schneiderian membrane lining the sinus and placing a bone graft beneath it.
Why is a sinus lift needed?
After upper back teeth are lost, the jaw bone can shrink and the sinus can expand into the space, leaving too little bone for implants. A sinus lift restores bone volume to provide a stable foundation for dental implant placement.
Who is a candidate?
Candidates include people who have lost one or more posterior upper teeth, have severe bone loss in the posterior maxilla, have congenitally absent teeth, or need implants in a fully edentulous upper jaw.
What techniques are used?
The lateral window technique creates a window in the sinus wall, lifts the membrane and places graft material. The osteotome technique uses a less invasive transcrestal approach but provides more limited augmentation. Planning uses panoramic radiographs or cone-beam CT.
What graft materials are used?
Bone substitutes include the patient's own bone (autograft), donor bone (allograft), animal-derived bone (xenograft) and synthetic material (alloplast).
How long before implants can be placed?
Bone healing generally takes about three to six months, and with the lateral window technique healing before implant placement is often reported in the range of four to twelve months. In some cases implants can be placed at the same time as the graft.
Conditions treated
Clinical conditions for which sinus lift is a treatment-ladder option.
Related Procedures
Other dental procedures in our registry