Sinus Lift — San Luis Obispo, CA
Building bone for implants in the upper jaw
When the sinus sits too close to the bone for an implant, a sinus lift rebuilds the space so an implant has room to anchor.
Overview
What is a sinus lift?
The maxillary sinuses sit just above your back upper teeth. When those teeth are lost, the bone between the mouth and the sinus can be very thin, sometimes too thin to anchor a dental implant. A sinus lift gently raises the sinus floor and fills the space underneath with bone graft material, giving an implant something solid to hold onto.
It’s one of the most common bone-grafting procedures for the upper jaw, and it’s often what makes an implant possible when there wasn’t originally enough bone to support one.
Urgent? Call 805-541-5611
Candidacy & Indications
Am I a Candidate for a Sinus Lift?
A sinus lift may be worth discussing if:
- You’re missing one or more back upper teeth and the sinus sits close to the bone.
- You’ve lost bone in the upper jaw from a prior extraction or gum disease.
- You want an implant but were told there isn’t enough bone above it to support one.
We’ll confirm with a 3D scan at your consultation and explain exactly what your case needs.
Dr. Janette’s Approach
Our approach to sinus lifts
Dr. Adam Janette is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Because he handles the grafting and the implant placement in one practice, your sinus lift and your implant are planned together as one path, not two separate procedures at two different offices.
Office Technology
The technology we use for sinus lifts
3D / CBCT imaging
A cone-beam scan that measures exactly how much bone sits between your mouth and the sinus.
Why it matters: we know before we start whether your implant can go in the same visit or needs to wait for the graft to mature.
Graft-to-implant continuity
Grafting and implant placement planned as one course of care.
Why it matters: fewer handoffs, one plan, one surgeon accountable for the result.
What to Expect
How the sinus lift procedure works
Before: consultation & planning
A 3D scan shows exactly how much bone is available. Dr. Janette explains whether your implant can be placed the same day or needs to wait for the graft to heal, with a written estimate for either path.
During: lifting the sinus and grafting
A small opening is made to gently lift the sinus membrane, and the space underneath is filled with graft material. It’s typically done under local or IV anesthesia, and if there’s enough existing bone, your implant can sometimes be placed in the same visit.
After: the graft matures
If the implant wasn’t placed the same day, the graft needs several months to mature into solid bone before it is. Either way, we’ll see you for follow-ups to confirm healing is on track.
Case Study
A recent case
Case Study · Sinus Lift
[PROOF: one de-identified case — thin upper-jaw bone rebuilt with a sinus lift → implant placement.]
Read the full case study →Recovery & Post-Op
Your first weeks after surgery
- Some swelling, pressure, or mild congestion near the sinus for the first few days is normal.
- Avoid blowing your nose forcefully or vigorous sneezing while it heals.
- Stick to softer foods and don’t smoke, it’s one of the biggest risks to a graft taking.
- The graft matures quietly underneath over the following months.
- These are general guides. Follow the specific instructions your surgeon gives you.
When to call us
Contact the office for things like bleeding that won’t stop with gentle pressure, swelling that worsens after a few days, fever, or persistent sinus pressure that doesn’t ease. Call the office with any concern.
Cost & Insurance
Cost of a sinus lift
Cost depends on how much bone is needed and whether it’s combined with implant placement. We check your dental coverage before the consultation, the estimate you get is in writing, and third-party financing can spread the cost if needed.
Frequently Asked
Questions patients ask us about sinus lifts
Sometimes. If there’s enough existing bone to hold the implant steady, both can be done in one visit. If not, the graft needs to mature first, usually several months, before the implant goes in. Your 3D scan tells us which applies to you.
The area is numbed, and IV anesthesia is available if you’d prefer it, so the procedure itself is usually easier than people expect. There’s some soreness and pressure afterward, managed with the plan we send home.
It varies with how much graft was needed, but several months is typical. We’ll give you a timeline for your specific case.
It depends on how much bone is needed and whether it’s combined with implant placement. Your consultation ends with a written estimate, and our office checks your coverage beforehand.
Patient Experiences
In our patients’ words
“Two extractions, a bone graft, an implant — my nervousness disappeared as Dr. Janette came into the room… He explained my problems patiently.”
“He removed an old implant and I needed a bone graft. It was all done and stitched within minutes and I walked out just fine.”
Ready to talk through your case?
Request a consultation. CBCT imaging, clinical exam, and a written treatment plan with fee quote at your first visit.