Sinus Lift: Surgery to Secure Bone Height Before an Upper Back-Tooth Implant

A sinus lift is surgery that raises the membrane on the floor of the maxillary sinus, the empty space above the upper back teeth, and fills the space beneath it with bone graft material to create the bone height for placing an implant. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) explains that in upper jaw implants, sinusitis can newly arise or existing sinusitis can worsen. Because this surgery is additional surgery for implants, it is not covered by insurance in Korea even for insured implants for people aged 65 or older.

Published 2026-11-08 · Updated 2026-11-08 · DentalStatics editorial team

Key facts

What kind of surgery is a sinus lift?

The maxillary sinus is an air space inside the upper jawbone, beside the nose and above the roots of the upper back teeth. As time passes after upper back teeth are lost, the jawbone shrinks and the sinus widens downward, so there is not enough bone height to place the artificial tooth root.

A sinus lift is surgery in which the thin membrane covering the floor of the sinus is carefully raised and the space created is filled with bone graft material. When the graft material turns into bone, that much height becomes available for placing the implant.

The approach differs depending on how much bone remains. Sometimes the membrane is pushed up from below through the hole used for placing the implant, and sometimes a window is made in the bone on the side so it can be raised more widely, so hear in advance which method will be used.

When is a sinus lift needed?

It is considered when the bone height measured on a CT at the upper back-tooth site is insufficient compared with the length of the fixture. There is no maxillary sinus in the front-tooth area or the lower jaw, so they are not subject to this surgery.

If only a little bone is lacking, it is done at the same time as placement, and if a lot is lacking, the sinus lift is done first and the implant is placed after waiting for the bone to settle. The National Health Insurance Service explains that additional surgery is not necessary for every implant and is chosen selectively only when truly necessary.

If sinusitis is already present or there is a nasal disease, an ear, nose and throat consultation may be needed before surgery. To reduce the risk of sinusitis after surgery, existing inflammation is checked first.

What should I watch out for after a sinus lift?

The surgical site may swell, the area around the nose may feel heavy, or there may be a little blood in nasal discharge. While the raised membrane and the graft material settle, follow the instructions from the clinic so that pressure inside the nose does not suddenly rise.

Take the prescribed medicine to the end for the set period, and do not chew on the operated side. Avoid smoking, as it interferes with regeneration of the grafted bone.

The KDCA explains that swelling after implant surgery is worst around 48 hours. If a sinus lift is done together, swelling or bruising may spread to the cheek and under the eye, so it is better not to schedule important appointments in the first few days.

• Do not blow your nose hard
• Sneeze with your mouth open
• Avoid using straws and strong gargling
• Discuss in advance any plans for air travel or diving

How are health insurance and cost handled for a sinus lift in Korea?

The National Health Insurance Service sets additional surgery for implants, such as bone grafting and sinus lift, as non-covered. Even people aged 65 or older who are eligible for insured implants pay the full cost of the sinus lift themselves.

However, having additional surgery does not cancel implant insurance, and the implant procedure proceeds with a 30% copay. The non-covered cost varies with the approach, the type and amount of graft material and whether placement is done at the same time, so get the items separately from the implant quote and compare.

When received together with an insured implant, the covered items and non-covered items are written separately on the medical fee receipt. If you check at the end of each stage which costs were billed on which side, it is easier to match against the quote later.

What symptoms mean I should be seen again?

If swelling and pain do not decrease after several days and instead get worse, or you get a fever, suspect infection and contact the clinic. Nasal discharge mixed with pus from one nostril, a bad smell, or continuing nasal congestion and facial pain can also be signs of sinusitis.

If granules of graft material keep coming out of the surgical site in the mouth, or you feel water leaking into the nose when drinking, it needs to be checked whether there is a problem with the membrane or the wound. If you have symptoms, do not wait for the next appointment.

• Swelling, pain and fever that keep getting worse
• Pus-mixed nasal discharge or a bad smell from one nostril
• Continuing nasal congestion and pain in the cheek or under the eye
• Granules of graft material coming out, a feeling of water leaking into the nose

Common myths and facts

Frequently asked questions

Related topics

• Dental implants
• Implant bone graft
• Implant process and timeline
• Implant cost structure
• Implant insurance for 65+

References

1. KDCA National Health Information Portal: Dental Implants
2. National Health Insurance Service: Dental Implant Coverage Q&A
3. National Health Insurance Service: Non-covered Items (Rules on Medical Care Benefit Criteria, Article 9(1))

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