Sinus Lift Surgery
Teaneck, NJ & Roselle, NJ
 If you’ve been told you need a sinus lift before getting upper-arch dental implants, RJ Dental performs sinus lift surgery at our Teaneck and Roselle, NJ offices. A sinus lift adds bone to the floor of your maxillary sinus so there’s enough vertical height to anchor a dental implant in your upper jaw. Most patients arrive at this page after an implant consultation found insufficient bone in the upper jaw, with sinus augmentation needed before placement can happen.
The maxillary sinuses sit directly above your upper back teeth. When you lose an upper molar or premolar, the bone between the tooth socket and the sinus floor often shrinks over time. By the time someone wants an implant, there may not be enough bone left to hold it. A sinus lift solves this by lifting the sinus membrane and placing graft material below it, where new bone forms over several months.
This is real surgery, not a minor adjustment. We won’t pretend otherwise. The good news is that sinus augmentation is a well-established procedure with predictable outcomes when planned carefully and performed by someone with the right training. That’s why this page exists separately from our bone grafting page – the procedure has its own anatomy and surgical approach to it.
On This Page
What Is Sinus Lift Surgery?
 A sinus lift, also called sinus floor augmentation or maxillary sinus elevation, is a bone graft procedure that increases the amount of bone in your upper jaw beneath the maxillary sinuses. The goal is to create enough bone height to support a dental implant. The procedure works because bone grows into the graft material over time, eventually creating a solid foundation where there wasn’t enough before.
The procedure is different from a standard ridge bone graft. A regular bone graft adds bone to a horizontal site, like a tooth socket after extraction or the side of the jaw. A sinus lift specifically targets the vertical space below the maxillary sinus, which involves working close to the sinus membrane and requires a different surgical approach.
Lateral Window vs Crestal Approach
Sinus lifts use one of two surgical approaches based on how much bone you have and how much you need.
The lateral window approach is the traditional method. We make a small opening in the side of the upper jaw, gently lift the sinus membrane upward, and pack graft material into the space. This approach is used for larger augmentations, typically when you need to gain more than a few millimeters of bone height. Healing takes 4 to 9 months before an implant can be placed.
The crestal approach (also called the transalveolar or osteotome technique) goes through the future implant site itself. We use specialized instruments to push the sinus floor upward through the implant site and add graft material from there. This approach is less invasive and works when you need only a small amount of additional bone, usually 2 to 4 millimeters. It’s sometimes performed at the same appointment as implant placement when there’s enough native bone to keep the implant stable from day one.
Is a Sinus Lift Right for You?
You may need a sinus lift if any of the following apply:
- You’re missing one or more upper back teeth (molars or premolars) and want a dental implant
- A previous dental consultation found insufficient bone in your upper jaw to support an implant
- The Cone Beam CT scan shows your sinus floor too close to where the implant needs to sit
- You’ve worn an upper denture for many years, which accelerates upper jaw bone loss
- You have a history of upper sinus issues (we coordinate with your physician in those cases)
The 3D scan from our Cone Beam CT tells us within minutes whether you need a sinus lift, which approach makes sense, and whether implant placement can happen at the same appointment or needs to wait.
Your Sinus Lift Surgery Doctor in Teaneck and Roselle
Dr. Shahin Ghobadi handles surgical cases at RJ Dental, including sinus lifts. He completed a postgraduate Oral Surgery residency at St Joseph Regional Medical Center after graduating from UMDNJ-Dental School – full background on Dr. Ghobadi’s bio. He is an active member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (AAOMS).
Sinus lifts sit at the surgical end of dental work. The procedure requires comfortable familiarity with the anatomy of the maxillary sinus, the membrane that lines it, and the bone surrounding it – familiarity that comes from a dedicated oral surgery residency rather than weekend continuing education. Most general dental practices don’t perform sinus lifts in-house and refer them out. We don’t refer them out, because Dr. Ghobadi handles them at our practice.
The Sinus Lift Surgery Process, Step by Step
A sinus lift case typically spans 4 to 9 months from your first consultation through the implant placement that follows the graft. Most of that time is healing, not appointments. The active treatment is usually three or four visits.
1. Consultation and 3D Imaging
 Your first visit covers an exam, a discussion of your tooth replacement goals, and a 3D scan using our Cone Beam CT. The CT tells us how much bone you have, how much you need to gain, where your sinus floor sits relative to the future implant site, and which surgical approach (lateral window or crestal) makes sense. Dr. Ghobadi reviews the scan with you and walks through the plan, including whether your implant placement can happen at the same time or needs to be delayed.
2. Sinus Lift Surgery
At the surgery appointment, we numb the area thoroughly with local anesthesia. The lateral window approach takes 1 to 2 hours; the crestal approach is shorter, usually less than an hour. Through the chosen access point, Dr. Ghobadi gently lifts the sinus membrane, places graft material below it, and closes the site. If your case allows immediate implant placement (sometimes possible with the crestal approach), we place the implant during the same appointment. If not, we schedule the implant for after the bone has matured.
3. Healing and Bone Maturation
This is the longest phase. The graft material gradually converts into your own bone over 4 to 9 months, depending on the approach used and how much bone we needed to add. The lateral window approach typically requires the longer end of that range. During healing you’ll follow soft food restrictions for the first week or two and avoid blowing your nose hard for about three weeks. We cover all the post-op instructions in detail. We also check in periodically to confirm the graft is integrating.
4. Implant Placement
Once the graft has matured into stable bone, we proceed with implant placement (if it wasn’t done at the surgery appointment). From here, the timeline follows the standard process for single tooth dental implants – another few months of healing for the implant to integrate, then the abutment and final crown.
Benefits of Sinus Lift Surgery
 The most direct benefit of a sinus lift is that it makes upper-arch dental implants possible when they otherwise wouldn’t be. Patients who would have been told they’re not candidates for implants – or pushed toward less optimal alternatives – can move forward with implant treatment after sinus augmentation. Dr. Ghobadi plans the augmentation to support the specific implant size and position your case requires, which is why this isn’t a generic add-some-bone procedure.
Bone preservation is the longer-term benefit. Once the graft material matures into your own bone, that bone responds to chewing forces from your implant the way natural bone responds to a natural tooth. The sinus floor stops shifting, and the augmented bone stays stable. Without the implant load, the bone in that area would continue to shrink, and replacing the missing teeth gets harder over time, not easier. We monitor the augmented site at every cleaning and confirm long-term stability with periodic 3D imaging when needed.
For patients who would otherwise be looking at long-term upper dentures, a sinus lift can shift the conversation entirely. It opens the door to fixed All-on-4 full-arch restorations or implant-supported dentures that depend on having enough bone for implants in the first place.
- Implant placement becomes possible – The CBCT shows us within minutes whether augmentation will create enough bone for the implant Dr. Ghobadi plans to place
- Long-term bone stability – Once the graft matures, the augmented bone responds to chewing forces and stays in place across decades; we monitor the augmented site during your routine cleanings
- Predictable healing under planned protocols – Sinus lifts have well-documented success rates when planned with 3D imaging like our Cone Beam CT and performed by surgically-trained doctors
- One-stage option for some patients – The crestal approach allows Dr. Ghobadi to place the implant at the same appointment for the right cases, shortening the overall timeline by months
- Avoidance of alternative compromises – Without enough bone, the alternatives are typically a removable upper denture or no replacement at all; sinus augmentation opens the implant pathway again
The benefits compound when the team handling your sinus lift also handles the implant placement that follows. The planning continues across the full case rather than restarting at handoff.
Why Choose Our Practice for Sinus Lift Surgery
Sinus lift surgery is one of the procedures that separates a general dental practice from one with surgical scope. Dr. Ghobadi completed his postgraduate Oral Surgery residency at St Joseph Regional Medical Center and is an active AAOMS member. The training matters because the maxillary sinus membrane is delicate – small perforations during surgery are not uncommon and require recognition and management to keep the case on track.
Our in-office Cone Beam CT makes the planning side equally important. The CT measures sinus floor distance, anatomy variations like septa inside the sinus, and the proximity of vital structures. Dr. Ghobadi reviews each scan in detail before any surgery is planned, and we use the same imaging during follow-up to confirm the graft is maturing on schedule.
We also handle the implant phase that follows the sinus lift, so your case stays under one roof from CT planning through final restoration. That continuity matters when the same team is tracking how the augmented bone is integrating with your future implant. Our practice has been doing implant work since opening in 2005, which means we’ve followed many patients across the full multi-month timeline a sinus lift case requires.
Sinus Lift Surgery Cost and Financing
Cost matters, and we’ll be straight with you about it. The cost of a sinus lift depends on the surgical approach (the lateral window approach is more involved than the crestal approach), how much bone we need to add, and whether implant placement happens during the same appointment or as a separate procedure later. The graft material itself adds to the cost, and we use materials appropriate for your case rather than a one-size-fits-all default.
Most patients planning a sinus lift are also planning the dental implants that follow. We provide a written estimate covering both phases together, so you can see the full cost from CT to final crown rather than getting surprised by separate fees along the way.
We accept most major dental insurance plans, and our insurance and financing options list every carrier we participate with. Some plans cover a portion of the sinus lift as a prerequisite to implant work; others treat it as a non-covered surgical procedure. Our front office team verifies your benefits before treatment.
For patients without insurance or who hit their annual maximum, our dental discount plan applies a 20 percent reduction to surgical work. Flexible payment plans through Sunbit, CareCredit, and LendingPoint help spread the cost across months. Call (551) 369-2001 for a personalized estimate after your consultation.
Schedule Your Sinus Lift Consultation
Ready to take the next step? Call us at (551) 369-2001 or request an appointment online to schedule. We’re at 865 Teaneck Rd in Teaneck, NJ 07666 and 121-125 Chestnut St, Suite 201 in Roselle, NJ 07203. Either office can handle the full sinus lift and implant case from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the sinus lift surgery hurt?
During the surgery, we fully numb the area with local anesthesia, and most patients describe what they feel as pressure rather than pain. Post-op discomfort is typically more noticeable than a routine filling but less than what most patients expect for surgery. Over-the-counter pain relievers and an ice pack on and off for the first day usually handle it. Most of our patients are surprised at how manageable the recovery is.
How long do I have to wait for my implant after the sinus lift?
For a lateral window sinus lift, plan on 4 to 9 months of healing before the implant can be placed. The exact wait depends on how much bone we needed to add and how your specific graft is integrating. We confirm readiness with a follow-up CT scan rather than just a calendar date. For crestal sinus lifts, the implant is sometimes placed at the same surgery, in which case the wait is for implant integration (3 to 6 months) rather than graft maturation.
Can I have my implant placed at the same time as the sinus lift?
Sometimes. Same-day implant placement is possible with a crestal sinus lift when you have enough native bone (typically at least 4 to 5 millimeters of vertical bone) to keep the implant stable from day one. The lateral window approach almost always requires waiting because we’re typically gaining more bone height and the site needs to mature before it can support an implant. Dr. Ghobadi makes this call based on your CBCT scan during the consultation.
What happens if my sinus is perforated during the procedure?
Small perforations in the sinus membrane happen in roughly 10 to 25 percent of lateral window sinus lifts – it’s one of the more common surgical considerations. When it happens, we recognize it during the procedure and either repair it with a collagen membrane on the spot or postpone the graft for a few weeks while the membrane heals. The training to recognize and manage perforations is one of the practical reasons sinus lifts belong with a doctor who has surgical residency training rather than only continuing education. Dr. Ghobadi did exactly that residency.
How long is recovery? Can I work the next day?
Most patients take 1 to 2 days off for a lateral window sinus lift and can return to a desk job by the third day. Crestal approach recovery is usually shorter. The first week, you’ll stick to soft foods, avoid blowing your nose, and avoid drinking through a straw – the sinus floor needs quiet conditions to heal. Mild swelling and bruising on the cheek are common for several days. Strenuous exercise and air travel should wait two to three weeks.
Will the sinus lift affect my breathing or sinus health long-term?
A successful sinus lift doesn’t change how your sinus functions. The membrane gets pushed up to make room for graft material; it isn’t damaged or removed. After healing, the sinus continues to function the same way it did before. Patients with chronic sinus conditions or active sinus infections need those addressed before surgery, and we coordinate with your physician in those cases. We don’t perform sinus lifts on patients with active infections.
Does dental insurance cover sinus lift surgery?
Coverage varies widely. Some plans cover a portion of the sinus lift as a medically-necessary prerequisite for implant placement; others classify it as a non-covered surgical procedure. Many plans cover the bone graft material separately from the surgical fee, so coverage can split across line items. Our front office team verifies your specific benefits before treatment and provides a written estimate of what insurance will and won’t pay. For patients without dental insurance, our discount plan applies a 20 percent reduction to surgical work.
Why should I choose RJ Dental for a sinus lift in Teaneck or Roselle?
Three practical reasons. Sinus lifts require oral surgery training, and Dr. Ghobadi completed his postgraduate Oral Surgery residency at St Joseph Regional Medical Center. Most general dental practices don’t perform sinus lifts in-house and refer them out, which fragments your care across two offices. We use our in-office Cone Beam CT for both the planning scan and the follow-up scans that confirm graft maturation, so the imaging stays consistent across the multi-month timeline. We also handle the implant placement that follows, which keeps the full case under one roof. |
