Published September 2026

1 of 6Above the upper back teeth sits the sinus, an air space in the bone
  1. Above the upper back teeth sits the sinus, an air space in the bone
  2. Where a tooth has been missing a while, the bone under it can be too thin for an implant
  3. Numbed. A small opening is made in the bone from the side
  4. The floor of the sinus is gently lifted, like raising a tent
  5. Graft material is placed underneath and the opening is closed
  6. 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?

Implant device to build up the jaw

Implants and bridgesMajorD7996

D7996. A device placed to rebuild the jawbone for facial repair; rare.

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.

Implant device to build up the jaw (D7996): what happens, step by step | TruthMolar