Limited bone height in the back of the upper jaw called for sinus augmentation. In this case, a lateral sinus lift and implant placement were carried out during the same operation, with healing and restorative care as separate stages.
Surgery performed by Dr. Sahand Shirzadi Maryan and Dr. Sergi Rivas Frau.
Understand the bone available. Plan around the sinus.
The clinical concern
The available bone height at the back of the upper jaw was limited beneath the maxillary sinus. The site needed augmentation as part of planning for an implant-supported tooth.
What informed the plan
CBCT assessment considered the remaining bone height, sinus anatomy and surgical access. The planned implant position also took account of the future restoration.
Why lift the sinus lining?
Create room for bone. Plan support for the implant.
The implant needs a suitable foundation beneath the sinus. These drawings explain the anatomy and how augmentation and implant placement can fit into one operation, as they did in this case.
Remaining boneSinus liningGraft before healingGumImplant
01 / Before surgery
Understand the space beneath the sinus.
The sinus is an air-filled space above the upper back teeth. At a missing-tooth site, the remaining bone may be too shallow for the proposed implant plan.
Why this matters
The scan helps us assess bone height and width, the sinus and the position of the future tooth. A sinus lift is one option; the alternatives depend on the individual anatomy.
02 / During the operation
Lift the lining. Create a protected space.
In this case, access through the side of the upper jaw allowed the thin sinus lining to be gently raised. Graft material was placed in the space beneath it.
Why this matters
The graft supports bone development below the raised lining. It does not fill the whole sinus, and freshly placed graft material is not yet mature bone.
03 / In the same operation
Place the implant when it can be stabilised.
Here, the implant was placed during the sinus augmentation. Its initial stability depends on the available bone; the surrounding grafted area still needs to heal.
Why this matters
If stable placement is not possible, grafting and implant placement may need separate operations. The dashed tooth below is a future restoration reference, not a tooth fitted during this surgery.
Educational cross-sections, not to scale or a reconstruction of this patient’s scan. The dashed horizontal line marks the original sinus floor. Surgical access, closure details, neighbouring teeth and sinus drainage are omitted. The diagrams do not establish implant dimensions, bone gain or a healed result; grafting and placement are shown conceptually, not as an operative guide.
One surgical phase. Further stages of care.
Placing the implant is not the end of healing.
01
Protect the early healing
The gum and surgical area need care and review. Your team gives instructions specific to the operation and checks for concerns during recovery.
02
Assess bone and implant healing
Bone develops in the grafted area while the implant integrates with bone. Clinical reviews and appropriate imaging guide the assessment; a surface photograph cannot confirm this.
03
Plan the final tooth
The restoration is a separate stage, planned when the implant and tissues are ready. This case photograph does not show a definitive crown or establish its timing.
The original clinical photograph above shows the gum-covered tooth space. These diagrams explain what a surface photograph cannot show; they are separate from the patient’s clinical evidence.
Treatment sequence
From assessment to continued care.
Each stage has a different purpose. The sequence below places the photographs in the wider course of assessment, treatment and follow-up.
01
Assessment
Review the bone and sinus anatomy
CBCT imaging helped assess the available bone height, sinus anatomy and access for surgery. Implant planning also considered the position of the future tooth restoration.
02
Sinus access
Elevate the membrane through a lateral window
A lateral approach through the side of the upper jaw was used to access and gently lift the sinus membrane. Piezosurgery was used during the preparation, creating access for augmentation beneath the membrane.
03
The same operation
Augment the site and place the implant
Bone augmentation and implant placement were completed during the same surgical phase. This approach depends on being able to obtain sufficient initial implant stability in the available bone; it is not suitable for every sinus lift case.
04
After surgery
Monitor healing before restorative treatment
Clinical and radiographic follow-up assess the tissue, augmented site and implant before decisions about the restoration. Placing an implant during sinus augmentation does not mean fitting the final crown during that operation.
Reading the follow-up
Surface healing and implant integration are different assessments.
What the image shows
The clinical photograph shows the gum tissue at the upper posterior tooth space. It provides a surface view of the area described in this case.
What it cannot establish
A surface photograph cannot establish the amount of regenerated bone, the condition of the sinus membrane or whether the implant has integrated. Those questions require the clinical findings and appropriate imaging.
The timing of the definitive crown depends on the assessment of healing and implant readiness. The photograph on this page does not show a final crown or establish a long-term result.
Your questions
Putting this case in context.
Does one operation mean the final tooth was fitted that day?
No. Here, one surgical phase refers to sinus augmentation and implant placement. The definitive crown is a separate restorative stage, arranged after the implant and surrounding tissues have been assessed.
Can every sinus lift include implant placement at the same time?
No. The amount and quality of the remaining bone, the ability to stabilise the implant, sinus anatomy and surgical findings affect that decision. Some patients need augmentation first and implant placement after healing.
What did the CBCT contribute to planning?
It helped assess the three-dimensional relationship between the remaining bone, sinus and proposed implant position. Using CBCT for planning does not by itself mean that a surgical guide was used.
Can this photograph show whether the graft or implant has healed?
It shows the surface tissue only. Graft maturation and implant integration need clinical assessment and, when appropriate, imaging. A similar appearance in another patient does not establish the same healing stage or readiness for a crown.
Clarify a proposed sinus lift or implant treatment plan.
Start with an assessment.
Tell us what concerns you. In the enquiry form, choose “Sinus lift / posterior maxilla” as your main concern. The team can explain the next step and which existing records may be useful.
Appointments take place at collaborating dental clinics in Barcelona. The clinical location is confirmed when your visit is arranged. For visits from abroad, agree the assessment arrangements before booking travel.
Individual results vary. Simultaneous implant placement depends on residual bone, primary stability, sinus anatomy and medical factors.
