Has your dentist recommended a sinus lift before your dental implant? There’s no reason to worry. In this article we explain what the procedure involves, why it is sometimes necessary and what awaits you, step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sinus lift is one of the most common preparatory operations in modern implantology. Although it is a routine, well-documented procedure with a predictable course, most patients hear about it for the first time only when they need it themselves \u2013 and that unfamiliarity is precisely what causes needless anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sinus lift (sinus floor augmentation) is a surgical procedure that increases the height of the bone tissue in the back part of the upper jaw. The aim is to create enough bone volume to anchor an implant safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anatomy is the key to understanding it. The maxillary sinus is an air-filled cavity within the skull, and its floor sits just above the roots of the upper back teeth. The floor is lined by the Schneiderian membrane \u2013 a thin but firm layer of mucosa that must remain intact throughout the procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the loss of an upper back tooth, the bone beneath the sinus gradually resorbs. To anchor a standard implant safely, at least 8\u201310 mm of bone height is required. Below 5 mm, even shorter implants (\u2264 6 mm) are not sufficient. A CBCT scan shows precisely whether augmentation is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The recommended approach depends on the residual bone height. Where 10 mm or more remains, the implant can be placed without any augmentation. With 5\u20139 mm of bone, a closed sinus lift or a short implant comes into consideration. When less than 5 mm remains, an open sinus lift (the lateral technique) is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sinus lift comes into consideration when bone height is below 8\u201310 mm, when an implant is planned in the region of the upper premolars or molars, in cases of bone atrophy after long-term tooth loss or trauma, or when the maxillary sinus is naturally positioned low. Augmentation is needed in roughly one in four patients who are candidates for an upper-jaw implant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The choice of method depends on the residual bone height, not on the dentist’s habit or the patient’s preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The closed sinus lift<\/strong> (the Summers technique, crestal approach) is performed through the same opening used to place the implant. Using specialised instruments, the surgeon gently pushes the sinus floor upwards and adds bone material through this channel. It involves less trauma, a shorter procedure and faster healing \u2013 but the gain in bone height is limited to 3\u20134 mm. It is indicated for bone heights of 5\u20139 mm, the procedure takes 30\u201345 minutes, healing before implant placement takes 3\u20134 months, and simultaneous implant placement is often possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The open sinus lift<\/strong> (the lateral technique) requires creating a small window in the lateral wall of the jaw. The surgeon lifts the Schneiderian membrane, places bone material into the resulting space and covers the window with a resorbable membrane. This technique makes it possible to add 10\u201315 mm of new bone. It is indicated for bone heights below 5 mm, the procedure takes 60\u201390 minutes, healing before implant placement takes 4\u20136 months, and simultaneous implant placement is done only exceptionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Material used for augmentation:<\/strong> most often a xenograft (bovine bone, Bio-Oss) for its reliability and availability, the patient’s own (autologous) bone, or a combination of the two. Synthetic materials are an alternative that avoids the need for a donor site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sinus lift is a technically more demanding procedure than a standard implant placement. Gently lifting the thin Schneiderian membrane, dosing the bone material correctly and working calmly and precisely in a confined space \u2013 these are the things where the surgeon’s experience makes the difference. In the hands of an experienced implantologist, a sinus lift proceeds smoothly and predictably; without that experience, the risk of complications rises significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Total duration: 60\u201390 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For patients who are anxious about a longer procedure, we offer conscious sedation \u2013 a light half-sleep in which you cooperate with us fully but experience the procedure without stress. Neither general anaesthesia nor hospitalisation is needed. Equally important, however, is the surgeon’s composure and assurance \u2013 even the best sedation is no substitute for a well-led dentist at the chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Esthesion, the sinus lift and the subsequent implant placement are performed by the same dentist. We don’t send you elsewhere for the augmentation and then back for the implant \u2013 we plan and carry out the entire process in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the first two to three days you may notice swelling of the cheek, mild pressure in the cheek area, minor bleeding from the nose for the first 1\u20132 days (a normal occurrence) and mild pain that can be managed with ibuprofen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For smooth healing it is important to follow a few simple rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sinus lift is a procedure with a low rate of serious complications. The most common ones, and how they are dealt with, are as follows. Perforation of the Schneiderian membrane occurs in 5\u201320 % of cases and is usually resolved directly during the procedure. Transient sinusitis occurs in under 5 % of cases and is treated with antibiotics. Wound infection occurs in under 2 % of cases and is managed with antibiotics and local treatment. Failure of the graft to integrate occurs in under 3 % of cases and is resolved with repeat augmentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contraindications include acute or chronic sinusitis, uncontrolled diabetes, active smoking, treatment with bisphosphonates, and a history of certain maxillary sinus operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does a sinus lift hurt?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia \u2013 you feel nothing during it. Afterwards the most common symptom is mild pressure and swelling, not sharp pain. Most patients get through recovery with ibuprofen for the first 2\u20133 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can a sinus lift be avoided?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cases, yes \u2013 by using short implants or by changing the placement. It always depends on the individual anatomy. At a consultation with a CBCT scan, we assess whether augmentation is necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is a sinus lift an outpatient procedure?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. Hospitalisation is not required; you go home after the procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How much does a sinus lift cost?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Prague, an open sinus lift ranges from approximately CZK 15,000 to 25,000 (approx. \u20ac600\u20131,000). We prepare an exact quotation after evaluating your CBCT scan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sinus lift is the longest-studied augmentation method in implantology, with a 15-year implant survival rate of over 97 %. The choice between the open and closed technique depends on the residual bone height \u2013 and it is the CBCT scan that decides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Esthesion, the sinus lift and the subsequent implant placement are carried out by a single dentist in a single place, with no referrals back and forth. For a procedure whose outcome depends directly on the surgeon’s experience, we consider this standard a matter of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you been advised to have a sinus lift? Book a consultation \u2013 we’ll assess your CBCT scan and propose the optimal approach for your specific case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Has your dentist recommended a sinus lift before your dental implant? There’s no reason to worry. In this article we explain what the procedure involves, why it is sometimes necessary and what awaits you, step by step. The sinus lift is one of the most common preparatory operations in modern implantology. Although it is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":173,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"slim_seo":{"description":"Sinus lift before a dental implant in Prague from CZK 15,000. Open vs closed technique, the procedure, healing and risks. Find out when bone augmentation is needed.","title":"Sinus Lift \u2013 What It Is, When It's Needed and What to Expect - Esthesion EN"},"case_before_image":"","case_after_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-clanek"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":175,"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174\/revisions\/175"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esthesion.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Course of an Open Sinus Lift<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Healing and Recovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Risks and Success Rate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n