When the upper back jaw is too thin for an implant, a sinus lift adds bone under the sinus.
After the loss of an upper back tooth, there may not be enough bone below the sinus to support an implant. A sinus lift adds graft material to the floor of the sinus so the area can heal with more support.
Dr. Chu uses your cone beam CT scan to see the anatomy clearly and determine whether a sinus lift is part of the plan. He will explain what he sees, what the procedure involves, and how long healing may take.
Healing after a sinus lift usually takes eight to twelve months before the implant is placed. Your exact timeline depends on your scan and treatment plan.