A sinus lift, also called sinus augmentation, is a bone-grafting procedure used in the upper back jaw when there is not enough bone height beneath the sinus to place an implant. It increases the supporting bone available in that area. It is the most common reason implant treatment in the upper back jaw needs a preparatory stage, and whether you need one is established from a CBCT scan rather than assumed.
The maxillary sinus is an air space that sits directly above the upper back teeth. When those teeth are present their roots occupy bone beneath it. Once they are lost, the ridge below reduces in volume in the usual way, and the sinus space above can expand into the area the roots used to fill. The result is that the upper back jaw is the region where implant patients most often find there is not enough bone height, sometimes only a few millimetres, even though nothing looks unusual from the outside.
How much augmentation is needed depends on the bone height present now and the length of implant the restoration requires. Modest gains can sometimes be achieved through the implant site itself during placement. Larger gains are approached from the side of the jaw, which is a more involved procedure with a longer healing period. Both are sinus lifts; they differ in scale rather than in principle, and the CBCT scan decides which your case needs.
Where enough bone remains to hold an implant stable while the graft matures around it, augmentation and placement can be carried out in one appointment. Where the remaining height is too small for that, the graft is placed first and left to heal before implants go in. Combining the stages saves an appointment and a healing period, but it is only appropriate when the site can support it, and that judgement comes from imaging rather than from what would be more convenient.
Some swelling and tenderness in the first few days is normal, and most people return to routine activities within a few days. Aftercare following sinus augmentation is specific to the approach used and generally includes advice on protecting the area while it heals, which is explained before you leave rather than handed over as a leaflet. Follow-up matters here more than in some procedures, because healing has to be assessed before the next stage of implant treatment is scheduled.
Augmentation is not always the right answer. Where bone loss in the upper jaw is severe, the amount of rebuilding required may be impractical or unlikely to give a predictable result, and an alternative approach such as zygomatic implants may be considered instead. That option anchors into denser bone higher in the face and avoids augmentation entirely. Which is appropriate depends on the extent and location of the loss, and both are set out with their costs so the comparison is informed.
A sinus lift is planned from three-dimensional imaging, because the height of bone beneath the sinus, the shape of the sinus floor and the position of the implant all have to be considered together. A standard dental X-ray does not show enough to plan from.
A consultation with CBCT imaging establishes how much bone you have, whether augmentation would change that, and what the sequence would look like.
All prices in CAD · starting prices
Related procedures
Where augmentation is not enough
Quoted separately
All prices are starting prices and may vary depending on case complexity, treatment requirements, materials and other clinical factors. Final treatment costs are confirmed following consultation and treatment planning. Prices effective September 2026.
The starting figure reflects a straightforward augmentation. Several things move it.
A small amount of lift achieved through the implant site is a different procedure from a larger augmentation approached from the side of the jaw.
Treatment is quoted per side. Cases needing augmentation on the left and right are two procedures.
Graft material and membranes vary by case and contribute to the total.
Combined treatment means one surgical appointment. Staged treatment means two, separated by a healing period.
Oral Surgery and Implants
Dr. Ali Mehdi brings over 15 years of experience in oral and implant surgery, with a focus on advanced implant dentistry and complex full-mouth rehabilitation. From routine oral surgery to advanced bone grafting and full-arch implant treatment, his approach combines surgical experience, digital technology, and individualized care.
View ProfileSinus lift treatment starts at $1,200 per side. Final cost depends on the extent of the augmentation, the materials used and whether implants are placed at the same time.
It may be recommended when there is not enough bone height in the upper back jaw to support an implant in the position the restoration needs. The sinus sits directly above those teeth, which limits how much bone is available.
It is a specific form of bone augmentation carried out in the upper back jaw. The principle is the same as grafting elsewhere; the anatomy is what makes it a distinct procedure.
In some cases yes, where enough bone remains to hold the implant stable while the graft matures. In others the graft is allowed to heal first. The decision follows imaging and planning rather than preference.
Where treatment is staged, the graft is given months rather than weeks to mature before implants are placed. The interval depends on how much augmentation was carried out, and is set out in your treatment plan.
Some swelling and tenderness in the first few days is normal. Post-operative instructions are specific to the surgical approach used and commonly include advice about protecting the area while it heals, which is explained to you before you leave.
The procedure works at the floor of the sinus rather than inside the airway. Existing sinus conditions are reviewed as part of planning, because they can affect whether and when augmentation is appropriate.
Clinical evaluation and imaging, usually including CBCT, assess the bone available and the nearby anatomy. A standard dental X-ray does not show the sinus floor in enough detail to plan from.
Sedation options may be considered depending on the procedure and your needs. IV sedation with a specialist anesthesiologist starts at $800.
Patients travel to us from White Rock, South Surrey, Surrey, Langley, Delta and across the Fraser Valley. Our team also speaks Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, and we accept referrals from dentists throughout the Lower Mainland.
Book a consultation with Apple Dental Specialists in White Rock. The team will review your goals and clinical findings, explain the treatment options that may be appropriate, and confirm the plan and final costs before care begins.
