Does This Sound Like Your Situation?
If any of these feel familiar, you are not stuck. A sinus lift may be the step that finally makes upper implants possible.
Why Waiting Makes Treatment Harder
More Bone Disappears
The longer teeth are missing, the more upper jawbone is lost to natural shrinkage.
Treatment Grows More Involved
Greater bone loss can mean larger grafts and a longer path to your final implants.
The Sinus Drops Lower
As back teeth stay missing, the sinus can expand downward, leaving less room for bone.
Fewer Choices Remain
Severe bone loss can narrow your options and rule out simpler approaches later on.
Months Keep Slipping By
Healing takes time, so every month of delay pushes your finished smile further away.
Daily Frustrations Add Up
Limited chewing and an uneven bite keep affecting how you eat and feel each day.
Acting sooner often means a simpler graft and a faster path to your new smile.
What Exactly Is a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift, also called sinus augmentation, adds bone to your upper jaw beneath the sinuses, the air filled spaces that sit above your back teeth. When upper teeth have been missing for a while, the bone there shrinks and the sinus can expand downward, leaving too little to anchor a dental implant, the permanent post that replaces a missing tooth’s root. The procedure gently raises the sinus lining and places bone material below it, rebuilding the height secure implants need.
Before any treatment begins at Old North Dentures and Implants, we use advanced 3D imaging to measure the bone beneath your sinus down to the millimeter. This planning lets us perform sinus lifts in Durham with precision, so the new bone forms exactly where your future implants will need it most.
Rebuilds bone height in the upper back jaw
Healing typically takes several months before implants
Planned with cone beam 3D imaging
Benefits of Sinus Lifts
See What's Possible for Your Smile
After
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After
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Request an appointment with one of our doctors and start your smile journey today.
Is a Sinus Lift Right for You?
Have been missing upper back teeth for several years
Have been told you don't have enough bone for implants
Currently wear an upper denture and want something more secure
Want to replace upper teeth with permanent, stable implants
Have lost bone from gum disease or long term tooth loss
Not Sure If You Qualify?
What to Expect During Your Sinus Lift
3D Evaluation
Your sinus lift begins with a detailed exam and a cone beam 3D scan that measures the exact amount of bone beneath your sinus. This low radiation imaging lets us see your anatomy from every angle, so we can plan a safe, accurate approach and answer your questions before anything begins. You leave understanding exactly what your case involves.
Personalized Planning
Using your 3D images, we map precisely where new bone is needed and decide whether your implants can be placed during the same visit or after healing. Every detail is worked out in our digital planning software ahead of time, which keeps your surgical visit shorter and more predictable. You arrive on treatment day with a clear, confident plan.
Adding New Bone
On treatment day, we make sure you are fully numb and comfortable, with sedation available if you would feel more at ease. We gently lift the sinus lining and place bone material in the space beneath it, following the plan created from your scans. The area is closed carefully, and most patients are surprised by how smooth the visit feels.
Healing Time
Over the following months, your body gradually turns the grafted material into strong, living bone. We check in along the way, often with follow up imaging, to confirm the area is developing the strength your implants will rely on. There is little to manage day to day, and most patients return to their routine quickly while healing continues quietly underneath.
Placing Your Implants
Once the new bone has matured, we place your dental implants into the rebuilt area, creating the secure foundation your upper restoration needs. From there, your custom teeth are designed to look natural and feel like your own. This is the moment the planning pays off, when a stable, complete smile finally becomes yours to keep.
Ready to Make Upper Implants Possible Again?
Recovering After Your Sinus Lift
First 24-48 Hours
Expect some mild swelling and a feeling of pressure near your cheek and upper jaw, both of which are completely normal. Rest, stick to soft foods, and avoid blowing your nose during this window. Most patients find any discomfort easily managed and far lighter than they feared.
First 1-2 Weeks
Over the next couple of weeks, swelling settles and you gradually feel more like yourself. You can return to most everyday activities within a few days, while saving strenuous exercise for a little later. Following a few simple guidelines during this time keeps your healing on a smooth, steady path.
Long-Term Healing
Beneath the surface, the real work happens quietly over the following months as new bone forms and strengthens. You will not feel this process day to day, and life continues as normal. We monitor your progress with periodic checkups until the area is ready for your implants.
Questions About Recovery? We are here to help.
Flexible Payment Plans for Your Smile
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
NO Credit Score Impact Until Plan Selected.
Don't Wait to Smile. Check out Our Payment Options.
Sinus Lift FAQs
Is a sinus lift painful?
Why do upper back teeth so often need a sinus lift?
How long does healing take?
Can the sinus lift and implant be done together?
Is a sinus lift safe?
Where does the bone material come from?
Will I be put to sleep for the procedure?
How do I know if I actually need a sinus lift?
What happens if I don't have enough bone and skip the lift?
How soon after a sinus lift can I get my implants?
Still Have Questions?
