Bone grafting and sinus lifting

An implant needs bone around it in every direction. Bone begins to resorb as soon as a tooth is removed, and in the upper back jaw the sinus sits close above, so a site that has been empty for years frequently has too little bone left. Grafting rebuilds that volume with graft material and a membrane; a sinus lift raises the membrane lining the sinus floor and places graft beneath it. Both need months to consolidate before an implant can be placed — which is why they change a timeline more than they change a price.

• A tooth has been missing for a long time and the ridge has narrowed
• The ridge is too narrow or too short for the planned implant
• The sinus sits too low over an upper back tooth site
• At the same time as an extraction, to preserve the socket
• Where an implant has been lost and the site needs rebuilding before another attempt

• Shorter or narrower implants, where the site allows
• Placing implants where bone exists rather than where the tooth was — including angled placement
• A bridge, where sound teeth stand either side
• A denture, removable or implant-retained
• Leaving the gap, which is reasonable for some sites

• A CBCT scan — a panoramic X-ray cannot show bone width, and width is what determines whether an implant fits
• The height available beneath the sinus floor for upper back teeth
• Gum health at the site
• Whether you smoke, which affects graft healing significantly
• Medical history, particularly bone medication, diabetes and immune conditions
• Any history of sinus disease, for a sinus lift

1. 1

   Assessment

   CBCT and planning. This is the stage that establishes whether grafting is needed at all — which is why a plan issued before a scan cannot include it honestly.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

2. 2

   The graft

   Graft material is placed and usually covered by a membrane, then the tissue is closed. For a sinus lift the membrane lining the sinus is elevated — lifted, never opened — and graft placed beneath it.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

3. 3

   Consolidation

   Months, during which the graft matures into bone capable of supporting an implant. This cannot be shortened by scheduling.

   Carried out by: You

4. 4

   Implant placement

   Either at the same appointment as the graft where enough bone already exists, or at a later visit once the graft has consolidated.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

5. 5

   Integration and restoration

   The implant then needs its own months of integration before the final crown or bridge is fitted.

   Carried out by: Partner clinic

Grafting adds a healing stage before the implant can be placed, which frequently means a third visit rather than a second. Where grafting and placement happen together, the interval before restoration is usually longer. After a sinus lift there are specific restrictions — including on nose-blowing and air travel — so ask for that guidance before booking a return flight.

• How much bone remains, in width as well as height
• The size and shape of the defect — some are far more predictable to graft than others
• Smoking, which is the most significant modifiable risk to graft healing
• Gum health at the site
• Sinus health, for a sinus lift
• Medical history and medication

• The type and quantity of graft material
• Whether a membrane is used, which is often a separate line
• Crestal or lateral window technique, for a sinus lift
• Whether it is done at the same appointment as the implant or separately
• Whether it was in the original quote at all, or added after the scan

We do not publish price ranges for this treatment. Any figure we could give before a clinic has approved it would be a guess presented as guidance. Your final price comes from the partner clinic in writing, after a dentist has reviewed your case.

• The graft may not integrate, and the procedure may need repeating
• Infection at the graft site
• Swelling and bruising, often more than patients expect
• Perforation of the sinus membrane during a sinus lift, which is managed at the time but may mean stopping and returning later
• Sinusitis following a sinus lift
• Exposure of the membrane through the gum, which can compromise the graft
• Longer overall treatment time, and often an additional trip
• Numbness where a graft site is close to a nerve

• Have you seen a CBCT, and what specifically does it show?
• Is grafting definitely needed, or is it a possibility depending on what you find?
• Could a shorter or narrower implant, or different positioning, avoid this?
• What graft material, and is a membrane included in the price?
• How long before the implant can be placed, and does that mean another trip?
• Was this in my original quote, and if not, what does it add?
• After a sinus lift, how soon may I fly, and what are the restrictions?

These are worth asking of any clinic, including ours. A clinic that answers them clearly and in writing is telling you something useful.

This treatment would be carried out by a licensed dentist at the partner clinic you choose, working in oral surgery and implantology. Dental Anchor does not provide treatment and does not employ dentists.

• Dental implants
• Full-mouth implants

• Bone grafting for dental implants in Turkey

  9 min read

• Sinus lifting for dental implants in Turkey

  9 min read