A sinus lift, sometimes called a sinus augmentation, is a treatment that may be needed to add bone to the upper jaw in the area of the back teeth (molars and premolars) to enable successful implant placement.

The maxillary sinuses are located above the upper jawbone on either side of your nose. When a tooth has been lost from the upper jaw, there may not be sufficient bone structure in the sinus region to place a dental implant.

Tooth loss also leads to bone loss because the bone begins to be resorbed once the teeth have been lost or removed. Teeth that have been missing for a longer period of time or bone loss due to periodontal disease may further contribute to lack of bone for implant placement.