What Sinus Lift Surgery
Actually Does
The technical name for this procedure is maxillary sinus floor augmentation, but most patients know it simply as a sinus lift. The maxillary sinuses sit just above the upper back teeth. When a molar or premolar is lost, the bone beneath that area begins to resorb over time, and the sinus cavity can slowly expand downward into the vacated space. The result is a reduction in bone height, the vertical measurement oral surgeons rely on to place an implant post securely.
A sinus lift addresses this by lifting the sinus membrane, creating a pocket of space between the membrane and the existing jaw bone, and packing that space with bone graft material. Over the following months, that graft integrates with your natural bone and builds the vertical foundation that implant placement requires. Research published in peer-reviewed dental literature consistently supports sinus augmentation as a predictable, well-documented procedure with strong long-term implant success rates.