Newport Beach Oral Surgery & Dental Implants Newport Beach Oral Surgery & Dental Implants by Dr. Nader Salib
(949) 204-0775 Request a Consultation
Millimetres Matter

Sinus Lift in Newport Beach

When an upper back tooth has been missing a while, there is often too little bone for an implant — the sinus expands into the space. A sinus lift restores the height so an implant can be placed.

Request a Consultation Call (949) 204-0775
5 mm+
lets the implant go same-day
4–12 mo
staged graft before the implant
CBCT
maps the sinus before surgery
ABOMS
board certified surgeon
5 mm+
lets the implant go same-day
4–12 mo
staged graft before the implant
CBCT
maps the sinus before surgery
ABOMS
board certified surgeon

How It Works

Crestal vs lateral window
Crestal
Lateral window
Used when
5 mm+ of bone
Less bone left
Bone gained
Smaller lift
Larger volume
Implant timing
Often same visit
Second appointment
Recovery
Faster
More swelling

The floor of the maxillary sinus sits just above your upper molar roots, separated by a thin shelf of bone and a delicate lining, the Schneiderian membrane. When a tooth up there is lost, the ridge resorbs from below and the sinus enlarges from above.

A sinus lift raises that membrane and places graft beneath it, restoring the bone height an implant needs. The lift is either crestal, through the implant site itself, or through a lateral window — chosen from your scan.

What This Solves

Too little bone below the sinus
Restores the height an upper back implant needs to stay stable.
A fixed tooth, not a bridge
Makes an implant possible where only a bridge or partial seemed left.
A molar gone for years
Rebuilds a ridge that has flattened over time.
Height lost to a denture
Restores an upper ridge reduced by long-term denture wear.
Bone lost to disease
Rebuilds bone lost to gum disease or a failed root canal.
Upper full-arch cases
Builds the height an All-on-4 style upper arch needs.

What Happens

01
A cone beam CT measures bone height and maps the sinus floor.
02
Local anesthetic, with nitrous, IV sedation or general anesthesia.
03
A small flap, then crestal access or a lateral window.
04
The sinus membrane is lifted and the space filled with graft, often with PRF.
05
The flap is sutured; follow-up and suture removal at 7 to 10 days.

What Happens

01A cone beam CT measures bone height and maps the sinus floor.
02Local anesthetic, with nitrous, IV sedation or general anesthesia.
03A small flap, then crestal access or a lateral window.
04The sinus membrane is lifted and the space filled with graft, often with PRF.
05The flap is sutured; follow-up and suture removal at 7 to 10 days.

Who Is a Candidate

Missing upper back teeth and wanting implants
Thin bone below the sinus on a 3D scan
An upper molar gone for years, with a flattened ridge
Long-term upper denture wear
No active, untreated sinus disease

What Do They Cost?

A sinus lift typically runs $1,500 to $5,000 in the United States, according to published patient-cost sources. The range is wide because a small crestal lift and a large staged lateral window are very different procedures.

It is usually bundled into an overall implant plan; dental coverage varies and is often partial. We verify benefits and offer financing through CareCredit, no-interest monthly plans, all major cards.

Recovery

Swelling, mild cheek pressure and occasional blood-tinged nasal discharge for a few days; most patients are back at desk work within a week. For the period we specify — no nose-blowing, straws, smoking or air travel, since anything that changes sinus pressure can move a graft that has not set.

Days 1–3 pressure, dischargeWeek 1 back to desk work4–12 mo matures, then implant
PRP Therapy — heal faster →

Sinus Rules — For the Period We Specify

Do not blow your nose
Sneeze with your mouth open, never with it closed
No straws, no smoking, no vaping
Avoid air travel and scuba diving
Sleep with your head elevated
No heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for the first several days

Call Us If

Swelling or pain increases after day three
Thick discharge, fever or a foul taste, which can signal sinus infection
Graft granules come out of your nose or the surgical site
Bleeding does not settle, or the incision opens

Frequently Asked Questions

How much bone do I need for an upper back implant?
Roughly 5 mm or more of residual height often allows a crestal lift with same-visit implant placement. Below that, a lateral window graft is usually the safer route.
Will I feel it in my sinuses?
Most patients describe pressure or congestion rather than pain, similar to a head cold, for a few days. Blood-tinged nasal discharge early on is expected.
Can the implant be placed the same day?
Sometimes, with a crestal lift and enough starting bone. Staged lateral window cases wait for the graft to mature.
Why can’t I blow my nose?
It raises pressure under the sinus floor and can displace graft material or reopen the membrane before it seals. Sneeze with your mouth open for the same reason.
What if the membrane perforates?
It is the most common intraoperative event and is usually repaired immediately with a collagen membrane or suture. Occasionally a large tear means postponing the graft.
Does insurance cover a sinus lift?
Dental plans sometimes cover part of it, particularly when tied to a covered implant plan. The office will help you check in advance.

Become Our Next Success Story

2121 E Coast Hwy, Ste 160, Corona del Mar · Mon–Thu 8–5, Fri 8–2

Request a Consultation Call (949) 204-0775