Sinus Lift
A surgical procedure that elevates the Schneiderian membrane of the maxillary sinus and places bone graft material beneath it to increase vertical bone height in the posterior maxilla for implant placement.
Full Definition
A sinus lift, formally termed a maxillary sinus floor augmentation, is performed when insufficient bone height exists in the posterior maxilla due to sinus pneumatisation or bone resorption following tooth loss. The Schneiderian membrane lining the sinus floor is carefully elevated, and the resulting space is filled with bone graft material to create adequate bone volume for endosseous implant placement. Two primary techniques are used: the lateral window approach (Caldwell-Luc technique) and the transcrestal (osteotome) approach. Editors should use 'sinus lift', 'sinus augmentation', and 'maxillary sinus floor augmentation' consistently per house style, noting these are synonyms, and should not conflate the lateral and transcrestal techniques.
Usage
Usage note: 'Sinus lift' is acceptable in semi-formal and patient-facing documents; 'maxillary sinus floor augmentation' is preferred in peer-reviewed and formal clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The consent documentation detailed the risks of a lateral window sinus lift, including membrane perforation and graft failure." — Surgical Consent Form
- "The operative report described a transcrestal sinus lift performed simultaneously with implant placement in the upper-right second premolar region." — Operative Report