Sinus Lift Surgery in Belleview
A Belleview patient comes in hoping to replace an upper back molar lost years ago. The CT scan tells a familiar story: the bone that once held that tooth has thinned, and the sinus cavity above it has gradually expanded into the space. There isn't enough height to anchor an implant safely. That's the moment a sinus lift enters the conversation — a preparatory procedure that rebuilds the foundation so an implant can be placed with confidence.
A sinus lift, sometimes called a sinus augmentation, adds bone to the upper jaw in the area of the molars and premolars. The floor of the maxillary sinus sits directly above these teeth, and when an upper back tooth is removed, the bone underneath begins to resorb while the sinus membrane drifts downward. Over time, what's left may be too thin to hold a dental implant.
During the procedure, we gently lift that sinus membrane upward and place bone grafting material into the space created beneath it. As the graft integrates with your existing bone over the following months, it forms a solid, stable platform. The sinus itself isn't shrunk or damaged — its floor is simply raised back to where it once sat. For Belleview patients who have been told they aren't candidates for implants, this is very often the step that changes the answer.
Not everyone who needs an upper implant needs a sinus lift. We make that determination with imaging and a clinical exam, measuring the available bone height and the position of the sinus floor. Several situations tend to bring Belleview patients to this procedure:
- Long-standing tooth loss in the upper back jaw, where bone has resorbed over years or decades
- Advanced gum disease that destroyed supporting bone before the tooth was extracted
- Naturally large sinuses, which some people simply have, leaving less bone to work with
- Patients pursuing full arch dental implants or implant-supported dentures who need adequate posterior support
- Those who have worn a removable partial denture for years and want a fixed replacement instead
Good candidates are generally in reasonable health with manageable sinus function and healthy gum tissue. If active gum disease is present, we treat that first — we offer scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery, and gum grafting in-house, so there's no need to coordinate across multiple offices. Active sinus infections are also addressed before surgery.
What the Procedure and Recovery Involve
We begin with a consultation and imaging, then review exactly what we see and why we're recommending the lift. Depending on how much bone is present, a sinus lift can sometimes be done at the same appointment as implant placement; when bone is very thin, we graft first and place the implant after healing. We'll explain which approach fits your situation before anything is scheduled.
The surgery itself is done with local anesthesia. For patients who feel uneasy about oral surgery, we offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation dentistry. We access the sinus through a small opening in the bone above the gumline, carefully elevate the membrane, pack in graft material, and close the site with sutures. Most people describe the experience as more straightforward than they expected.
Afterward, expect some swelling and mild bruising for several days. We ask patients to avoid blowing their nose forcefully, sneeze with the mouth open, and skip strenuous activity and straws for a short period — all of which protect the graft while the membrane settles. Soft foods are easier for the first few days. We provide written aftercare instructions, and we see you for follow-up visits to confirm the graft is healing as it should before moving ahead with the implant.
Caring for Belleview Patients at Our Ocala Office
Belleview residents have been part of our patient family throughout the thirty-plus years we've practiced in Ocala. Because we handle surgical and restorative care under one roof — extractions, bone grafting, implant placement, crowns, bridges, and implant-supported dentures — Belleview patients aren't sent across town to different specialists at each stage. Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris see your case through from planning to final restoration.
Our on-site dental lab is part of what makes that continuity possible, allowing us to fabricate and repair crowns and dentures without outside turnaround. We also accept patients without a referral for surgical and periodontal care, so Belleview patients can call us directly.
Insurance, Payment, and Getting Started
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a General Practitioner. Many plans contribute toward grafting and implant-related procedures, and we'll help you understand your specific coverage before treatment begins.
We also welcome self-pay and cash patients, and we offer flexible payment plans so the cost of a sinus lift and the implant work that follows can be spread out sensibly. If you're in Belleview and have been told your upper jaw lacks the bone for implants, we'd be glad to take a look and give you a straight answer.