Published September 2026

1 of 6Above the upper back teeth sits the sinus, an air space in the bone

Above the upper back teeth sits the sinus, an air space in the bone
Where a tooth has been missing a while, the bone under it can be too thin for an implant
Numbed. A small opening is made in the bone from the side
The floor of the sinus is gently lifted, like raising a tent
Graft material is placed underneath and the opening is closed
Months later there is bone enough for an implant

Who usually does it

oral surgeon. Done by an oral surgeon or periodontist.

One question worth asking

How long after this before the implant can go in?

Bone graft and sinus lift

Implants and bridgesMajorD7295 D7921 D7950 D7951 D7952 D7995 D7996

If the jaw does not have enough bone for an implant, the surgeon adds bone graft material. A sinus lift raises the floor of the sinus above the upper back teeth to make room for bone. Related codes cover harvesting bone and using your own blood products to speed healing.

Graft material, either processed bone or your own, is placed where the jaw is too thin or too short for an implant, and it is left to knit into solid bone over months. A sinus lift reaches the space above the upper back teeth and raises the sinus floor to make room for that bone. Related codes cover harvesting bone from elsewhere and spinning your own blood to concentrate the parts that speed healing. Most plans file this as Major. What they actually pay varies by plan.

Codes for this

D7295MajorHarvesting your own bone for a graftBone is taken from another spot in your jaw to use as graft material.per site · Rarely done D7921Not usually coveredUsing your own blood to help healingA small blood sample is spun into a healing gel and placed in the surgery site.per visit · Done sometimes D7950MajorBone graft to rebuild the jawBone material is added to a thin or short ridge, usually before an implant.per site · Done sometimes D7951MajorSinus lift through the socketThe sinus floor is gently lifted through the implant site; the smaller version.per site · Done sometimes D7952MajorSinus lift through a side windowA small window is opened in the side of the jaw for a larger lift; the bigger version.per site · Done sometimes D7995MajorSynthetic bone graftUses man-made graft material rather than bone.per site · Rarely done D7996MajorImplant device to build up the jawA device placed to rebuild the jawbone for facial repair; rare.per site · Rarely done

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Part of these flowsUpper back tooth implant with a sinus lift

Often withDental implantD6010 3D cone beam scanD0364