The upper jaw sits immediately below the sinus cavities, which are hollow air spaces within the skull. In many patients, particularly those who have been missing upper back teeth for some time, the sinus cavity gradually expands downwards into the space where the tooth roots used to be. This leaves insufficient bone depth between the gum and the sinus floor to place an implant safely. A sinus graft, also called a sinus lift, addresses this by carefully elevating the floor of the sinus and placing bone grafting material into the space created. Over several months this material fuses with the existing bone, increasing the depth and volume of bone available for implant placement. It is a precise and technical procedure, but it is one our team performs routinely and with a high degree of confidence.
Sinus grafting is specifically for patients who need implants in the upper back jaw but have been found to have insufficient bone depth in that area. It is also sometimes considered alongside bone grafting for patients who have experienced significant bone loss following tooth loss or gum disease. If you have been assessed elsewhere and told that your bone is insufficient for implants, we would encourage you to come in for a consultation at MCR Implant Centre. A sinus graft may open up the option of implant treatment where it was previously considered impossible.
Sinus grafting requires detailed planning. We use CBCT scanning to measure the existing bone height and volume precisely, assess the anatomy of the sinus and plan the grafting procedure in detail. This scanning stage is important not just for planning the graft itself but for confirming how it fits into the wider implant treatment plan.
The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic. A small incision is made in the gum tissue to access the side wall of the sinus. A small window is created in the bone, the sinus membrane is carefully elevated and the space beneath it is filled with grafting material. This material is typically a combination of synthetic bone substitute and, in some cases, bone harvested from elsewhere in the mouth. The incision is then closed with sutures.
The healing period following a sinus graft is typically between four and nine months, depending on the amount of bone required and the individual patient. During this time the grafting material gradually integrates with the existing bone, building up the solid foundation needed for the implant.
Once the graft has fully matured and sufficient bone density has been confirmed on a follow-up scan, implants can be placed in the treated area. From this point, the process follows the standard implant pathway through to the final crown fitting.
For most patients who need a sinus graft, the decision is not really about the graft itself. It is about what the graft makes possible. The prospect of fixed implant-supported teeth rather than a denture or a gap is the motivating factor, and sinus grafting is the step that gets them there. We find that patients who have been through this process consistently feel that the outcome was worth it. There is a particular satisfaction in receiving implants after being told it was not possible, and we take genuine pleasure in being part of that journey.
If you have been told you do not have enough bone for implants, please do not assume that is the final answer. Come and speak with our team. A sinus graft may be the step that makes the treatment you want a realistic possibility. Book your free consultation and let us assess what is achievable for you.
