The maxillary (‘upper jaw’) sinuses are large air spaces which occupy the molar regions of your upper jaw. Often, the roots of your molars and even premolar teeth protrude into the sinus spaces. Following the loss of these teeth, the bottom of the sinus may descend, reducing the amount of bone to anchor implants. Such patients would often have to rely on wearing loose dentures, unless a sinus lift (also called augmentation or grafting) is carried out.

Bone height can be regained by means of elevating the floor of the sinus and allowing bone to grow in the space created. There are various ways of doing this. One technique involves making an incision, then raising a gum flap to allow us to make a small, oval shaped outline on the bone. This oval shaped bony piece is gently lifted inwards, to act like a trap-door. This creates a space that allows us to place some bone graft material. Simultaneous implant placement is sometimes possible, but more commonly they are then placed at a later date when the bone has regrown.

Another technique incorporates a small additional step, during the preparation of the channel for the implant. The bone channel is prepared until the thinnest layer of bone that is adjacent to the sinus floor is reached. Special instruments are carefully passed into the channel and gently tapped to elevate the small area of the sinus. Bone graft material is then gradually introduced through this channel. Implant placement can be placed simultaneously, if there is sufficient sound bone to stabilise the implant. Otherwise, after six months, when bone regeneration has occurred, implantation can be carried out.