Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Rebuilding Upper Jaw Bone for Lasting Implants

Upper back teeth carry a surprising amount of responsibility, and once they are gone, the bone that held them can begin to fade within months. By the time many people on Long Island are ready for dental implants, the sinus above those teeth has often settled into the space where bone used to be.

At Precision Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Mohamed El-Ounsi performs sinus lift surgery to restore that missing height so an implant has solid bone to anchor into. As a board-certified oral surgeon on Long Island, he plans every lift around your scans, your timeline, and the restoration you want in the end.

What Happens During a Sinus Lift

A sinus lift, sometimes called sinus augmentation, adds bone beneath the floor of the maxillary sinus. Dr. El-Ounsi gently raises the thin membrane that lines the sinus and fills the space below it with graft material. Over the next several months, your body replaces the graft with its own bone, creating the height needed for dental implants on Long Island.

Lateral Window and Crestal Approaches

The right technique depends on how much bone you already have. A lateral window approach reaches the sinus through a small opening on the side of the upper jaw and is used when more bone is needed. A crestal approach works through the implant site itself and is often an option for smaller lifts, sometimes allowing immediate implants to be placed during the same visit.

Both methods have strong track records. A 2022 systematic review published through the National Library of Medicine found no significant difference in implant survival between the two approaches, so the choice comes down to your anatomy rather than one technique being better than the other.

Sinus Augmentation on Long Island

Signs You May Need a Sinus Lift

A sinus lift is not part of every implant plan, but it is common when upper back teeth have been missing for some time. Dr. El-Ounsi may recommend one if your imaging shows any of the following.

Thin upper jaw bone: There is too little bone height beneath the sinus to hold an implant securely.
Long-term tooth loss: Upper molars or premolars have been missing for months or years.
Denture wear: Years of wearing an upper denture have gradually worn down the ridge.
Low sinus position: Your sinus naturally sits close to the roots of your upper teeth.
Full arch plans: You are preparing for full arch rehabilitation in the upper jaw.

If any of these sound familiar, a consultation and 3D scan can show exactly how much bone you have and whether a lift should come first.

Recovery and Healing Timeline

Most patients return to normal routines within a day or two. Swelling and a feeling of fullness in the sinus are common for several days and usually respond well to over-the-counter pain relief. For a short time, it helps to avoid forceful nose blowing, drinking through straws, and flying so the graft can settle, and sneezing with your mouth open reduces pressure on the healing area.

The graft typically needs four to nine months to mature, depending on how much bone was added. During that time, we check your progress with follow-up imaging, and once the new bone is ready, we move forward with placing your implant.

Why Long Island Patients Trust Precision Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Dr. El-Ounsi completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at NYU Langone and Bellevue Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Sinus lifts often go hand in hand with bone grafting and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a concentrate made from a small sample of your own blood that supports healing. Our team sources biomaterials for each case individually rather than relying on a single default product. Combining these treatments when needed helps create a stronger, more predictable foundation for your implant.

Clear Treatment Plans

Your plan covers every stage, from graft to final implant, with transparent pricing before treatment begins.

Comfortable Surgery

Local anesthesia is standard, and IV sedation is available for patients who prefer to rest through the procedure.

Guided Recovery

Most patients feel mild sinus pressure for a few days, and we provide clear aftercare while your graft matures.

Schedule a Sinus Lift Consultation With Precision Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

A sinus lift may be the step that turns an uncertain implant plan into a realistic one. Dr. Mohamed El-Ounsi and our team take the time to review your scans with you, explain each stage, and build a timeline that fits your life.

We offer same-day consultations at our Deer Park office, accept many major dental insurance plans, and provide financing through CareCredit, Cherry, Alphaeon, Proceed, and HFD. To find out whether you need a sinus lift before implants, contact our office to schedule your visit.