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Oral surgery · UK

Sinus lift for dental implants, by a specialist oral surgeon.

A day-case procedure to rebuild bone height in the upper back jaw so a proper dental implant can be placed. CBCT-planned, membrane-first, and done by a GDC-registered specialist in oral surgery or periodontics.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private sinus lift costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

A crestal lift with implant, or a lateral lift plus crown: £2,600–£6,500, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
CBCT cone-beam CT and specialist consultation £250–£450
Crestal (Summers osteotome) lift, 2–4 mm £850–£1,600
Crestal lift with simultaneous single implant £2,600–£3,800
Lateral window sinus lift, graft only £1,600–£3,200
Lateral window with delayed implant (per implant) £4,500–£6,500
Second-opinion review of scans and plan £250–£450

Prices vary by clinic, by graft material, by whether a single or bilateral lift is done, and by whether implants and crowns are included in the quote.

The problem

The right surgeon, the right technique, the right graft.

A sinus lift booked in without a proper CBCT, or done by a generalist without volume, is a recipe for a torn membrane, a lost graft and a failed implant. We stop that happening.

  • Do I really need a lift?

    Short implants or a zygomatic plan sometimes work better. A proper CBCT-led second opinion answers this before you commit.

  • Worried about the sinus complications?

    Membrane perforation, sinusitis and graft migration are the real risks. Quoted honestly, with a written aftercare plan, before you consent.

  • Want it done in a specialist unit?

    A GDC-registered oral surgery or periodontal specialist, CBCT on site, and ENT and implantology backup where needed.

When it helps

When a sinus lift is the right step, and when it is not.

The situations that most often lead to a lift, plus the CBCT findings that mean an ENT referral or a different plan comes first.

  • Posterior maxilla with <6–8 mm residual bone

    The upper back jaw where the sinus has pneumatised after tooth loss and standard implants can no longer be placed safely.

  • Long-standing missing upper molar

    Alveolar ridge resorbs after extraction and the sinus floor drops. A lift restores vertical height for an implant of adequate length.

  • Failed or fractured upper molar or premolar

    Immediate or delayed grafting after extraction can preserve ridge height and reduce the size of lift needed later.

  • Full-arch upper implant plan

    Bilateral sinus lifts as part of a fixed bridge plan when All-on-4 or All-on-6 without grafting is not possible.

  • Previous failed implant in the sinus zone

    A migrated or failed upper implant may need explantation, sinus repair and staged grafting before a fresh implant is placed.

  • Prominent sinus septa or thick membrane

    Complex sinus anatomy on CBCT means a lateral window rather than a blind crestal approach, in experienced hands.

  • Short implant considered but ruled out

    Where a 6–8 mm short implant would compromise crown-to-implant ratio or occlusal loading, a lift is the safer plan.

  • Red flag: chronic sinusitis, polyp or mucocele

    Active sinus disease on CBCT needs an ENT opinion first. Grafting into an inflamed sinus fails and can drive an acute infection.

Technique options

Sinus augmentation is a family of techniques, and zygomatic implants sit beside it.

What each option on the table actually involves and which one fits which case. For fully atrophic upper jaws, All-on-4 Zygoma is often the cleaner answer.

  • Crestal (Summers) osteotome lift

    Transalveolar, minimally invasive. Lifts the sinus floor 2 to 4 mm through the implant osteotomy. Needs 5 mm or more of residual bone and allows same-day implant placement.

  • Lateral window sinus lift

    A Caldwell-Luc type approach. A bony window is cut in the lateral maxilla, the Schneiderian membrane is lifted, and graft is placed. Allows lifts of 4 to 10 mm.

  • Simultaneous versus delayed implant

    If 5 mm of residual bone remains, implants can be placed at the same time. Below that, the graft matures for 4 to 6 months before delayed placement.

  • Bio-Oss xenograft

    Deproteinised bovine bone mineral. The most common graft material worldwide. Slow-resorbing scaffold with well-published implant survival at 5 and 10 years.

  • Autogenous bone plus allograft

    A harvest of autogenous bone from the mandibular ramus or symphysis, mixed with mineralised freeze-dried allograft. Faster remodelling in the right hands.

  • Synthetic beta-TCP with PRF

    Beta-tricalcium phosphate scaffold with platelet-rich fibrin as an adjunct. A synthetic option that avoids animal-derived materials.

  • Zygomatic implants

    Long implants that engage the zygomatic bone, bypassing the atrophic maxilla altogether. Used in All-on-4 Zygoma full-arch cases where lifts are not feasible.

  • Second-opinion review

    A specialist review of your CBCT, plan and quote before you commit. Sometimes a short implant or a zygomatic plan is a better answer than a lift.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards, honestly.

Sinus lift is a common, well-established oral surgery procedure. The things worth planning are the membrane, the aftercare rules on nose-blowing and straws, and the healing interval before restoration.

  • Schneiderian membrane perforation

    The commonest complication at around 10 to 20 per cent. Small tears are managed at the time with a collagen membrane and rarely change the outcome.

  • Post-operative sinusitis

    Uncommon when antibiotics, decongestant and saline rinses are used correctly. Any purulent nasal discharge or facial pain past 10 days needs review.

  • Graft migration or loss

    Rare with modern membranes and closure. A displaced graft may need repeat surgery. CBCT at 4 to 6 months confirms the graft is where it should be.

  • Implant failure

    Overall 5-year implant survival after sinus lift is 90 to 95 per cent in published series, comparable to non-augmented sites in the same jaw.

  • No nose-blowing for two weeks

    Increases sinus pressure across the fresh membrane and graft. Sneeze with the mouth open. Saline sprays are fine, decongestant sprays as prescribed.

  • No straws, no smoking, no diving

    Negative pressure disrupts the clot and the membrane. Straws, smoking and diving are avoided for two weeks. Air travel is discussed case by case.

  • Sit up to sleep for 48 hours

    Elevating the head reduces swelling and post-operative bleeding into the sinus. Two pillows or a reclining chair for the first two nights.

  • Soft diet for 7 to 10 days

    Cold and soft foods for the first few days, then a soft diet for a week. Nothing crunchy or hot on the surgical side until sutures are removed.

  • Red flags after discharge

    Persistent bleeding from the nose, facial swelling worsening after day 3, fever, purulent discharge or graft particles in the nose need same-day review.

Reading your surgical notes

Your sinus lift note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever technique was used, the operative note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK oral surgeon reviewing a dental CBCT scan

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly, we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the notes before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Site, technique and residual bone

    Which tooth positions were treated, whether a crestal or lateral approach was used, and the residual bone height on the pre-op CBCT.

  2. 02 Technique

    Graft material, membrane and closure

    Which graft was placed (Bio-Oss, autogenous, synthetic), whether a collagen membrane was used, and how the flap was closed.

  3. 03 Findings

    Membrane integrity and implant placement

    Whether the Schneiderian membrane was intact, any perforation and how it was managed, and whether implants were placed at the same visit.

  4. 04 Impression

    Healing plan and next steps

    Read this first: aftercare, antibiotic and decongestant regime, sutures at 10 to 14 days, and the interval to restoration or delayed implant placement.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for dental implants and sinus grafting is usually outside standard medical insurance and falls under dental plans or self-pay.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about sinus lifts.

Quick answers on sedation, technique choice, complications, cost and the wait to a final crown.

  • Why do I need a sinus lift for my dental implant?

    The posterior maxilla often has less than 6 to 8 mm of vertical bone once an upper molar or premolar has been missing for a while. The alveolar ridge resorbs from below and the maxillary sinus pneumatises from above. A standard implant of 8 to 13 mm cannot be placed safely without lifting the sinus floor and adding bone graft first.

  • What is the difference between a crestal and a lateral window sinus lift?

    A crestal (Summers osteotome) lift is done through the implant socket itself and can lift the sinus floor by 2 to 4 mm. It needs 5 mm or more of residual bone and allows same-day implant placement. A lateral window lift is a larger open procedure through the side of the maxilla, allows 4 to 10 mm of lift, and may need a 4 to 6 month wait before implants are placed.

  • How much does a private sinus lift cost in the UK?

    A crestal lift is £850 to £1,600, or £2,600 to £3,800 with a simultaneous single implant. A lateral window sinus lift is £1,600 to £3,200 for grafting only. A lateral lift plus delayed implant and crown is typically £4,500 to £6,500 per implant. A CBCT and specialist consultation is £250 to £450.

  • Will I be asleep for the procedure?

    Most sinus lifts are done under local anaesthetic with IV sedation, which is safe, comfortable and lets you go home the same afternoon. General anaesthetic is available for anxious patients or complex bilateral cases and is usually done at a day-case hospital or specialist implant centre.

  • How long does the graft need to heal before the implant is loaded?

    For simultaneous placement, implants integrate over 4 to 6 months before the crown is fitted. For delayed placement after a lateral lift, the graft matures for 4 to 9 months before implants are placed, then a further 3 to 6 months before restoration. Total time from lift to crown is typically 6 to 12 months.

  • What are the alternatives to a sinus lift?

    Short implants of 6 to 8 mm can sometimes be used to avoid the sinus altogether, in the right bone quality and occlusion. For full-arch upper cases where the maxilla is very atrophic, zygomatic implants (All-on-4 Zygoma) engage the cheekbone and bypass the sinus. Not every case needs a lift and a second opinion is worth having before you commit.

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