Sinus lift is a special form of bone augmentation. As a result of bone loss and an expanded maxillary sinus, the bone height in the maxillary posterior region is often so small that an implant cannot be inserted stably to an adequate length.

By surgical elevation of the maxillary sinus mucosa (sinus lift) and subsequent grafting of bone or bone augmentation material into the floor of the maxillary sinus (sinus graft), bone height is sufficiently increased so that implants can be safely anchored after a healing period of 4 to 6 months.

A distinction is made between a single-step procedure, in which implantation takes place at the same time as this specific bone augmentation, and a two-step procedure where implants are only inserted after an incorporation period of 4 to 6 months.

A sinus lift can also be described as internal (minor) or external (major):

In an external sinus lift, a bone window is created from the oral cavity through to the maxillary sinus. Via this access, the maxillary sinus mucosa (comparable to the inner membrane in an egg) is detached from the floor of the sinus and lifted upwards. Bone or bone augmentation material (Algipore/SIC nature graft/KLS martrix) is then placed in the resulting space under visual observation.

In an internal sinus lift, bone augmentation material (Algipore/SIC nature graft/KLS martrix) is pressed under the maxillary sinus mucosa through the drill hole for the implant that will later be inserted. This makes it possible to use longer implants. Once again, a healing period of 3 to 4 months must be observed.