Plan With a 3D Scan
A cone-beam scan builds a three-dimensional model of your jaw and sinus, so we can measure your exact bone height and decide whether you need a lift at all — and which approach fits your case.
Sinus Augmentation in Raleigh, NC
Sinus augmentation — a sinus lift — rebuilds bone in the upper jaw so a dental implant has something solid to anchor to. Village Dental plans and performs it at all four of our Raleigh-area offices: Olde Raleigh, North Raleigh, Brier Creek, and Wake Forest.
Why a Sinus Lift
Not Enough Upper-Jaw Bone for an Implant? A Sinus Lift Rebuilds It
When you lose a back tooth in the upper jaw, two things quietly start working against a future implant. The bone that used to hold the root begins to shrink, and the maxillary sinus — the air-filled space that sits just above your upper molars — tends to drift downward into the gap. Give it enough time and there simply isn't enough bone height left to anchor an implant safely. A sinus augmentation, or sinus lift, rebuilds that bone so the implant has a solid foundation to sit in.
Patients come to Village Dental for this from across the Triangle — from Six Forks and North Hills, out toward Capital Boulevard and Wake Forest, and over on the Brier Creek and RTP side. The story is usually similar: a molar was pulled or lost years ago, and now that someone is finally ready for a dental implant, a 3D scan shows the sinus sitting too low to place one. It's a routine fix, and one of the more predictable procedures in implant dentistry, with long-term success reported above 95%.
A sinus lift is rarely the end goal on its own — it's the groundwork for replacing a tooth. We'll talk through how it fits with your bone grafting and implant plan, whether the graft and implant can happen together or need to be staged, and what the timeline looks like. If a tooth still has to come out first, we handle extractions too. See our four Raleigh-area locations to find the office closest to you.
How It Works
What to Expect With a Sinus Augmentation
It starts with a 3D scan and is done under local anesthesia — the lift itself is usually a single appointment, followed by a few months of healing before the implant goes in.
Lift & Graft
Under local anesthesia, the sinus membrane is gently raised and bone graft material is packed beneath it to create height. Most lifts take about an hour, with sedation available if you'd prefer it.
Heal, Then Implant
The graft matures into your own bone over roughly six to nine months. Once it's solid, the implant is placed — sometimes the implant goes in the same day if only a small lift was needed.
Imaging & Technique
3D Cone-Beam Planning Behind Every Sinus Lift
Every sinus lift at Village Dental starts with a 3D cone-beam (CBCT) scan. A standard dental X-ray is flat; a cone-beam scan is a true three-dimensional model of your jaw and sinus, so we can measure exactly how much bone height you have and see where the sinus membrane sits before anything begins. That single measurement drives the whole plan — whether you need a lift at all, how much graft material to place, and whether an implant can go in the same day or has to wait.
There are two ways to do the lift, and the scan tells us which one your case calls for. When you only need a few millimeters, a crestal (or osteotome) approach gently raises the sinus floor through the same channel the implant will use — less invasive, with faster healing. When you need more height, a lateral-window approach opens a small access point to lift the membrane and pack graft underneath. Either way, that graft slowly becomes your own living bone over the months that follow.
Two things hold true at every Village Dental office. We quote the price in writing before we start, so the number isn't a surprise when you walk in. And this is a judgment-free practice — if it has been years since your last visit because a tooth was lost and you weren't sure what came next, you're in good company; plenty of our implant patients started in exactly that spot. We also keep same-day windows open daily, so the first consult and scan can often happen quickly.
Cost & Coverage
How Much Does Sinus Augmentation Cost in Raleigh?
What a sinus augmentation costs depends on the approach — a minor crestal lift done alongside an implant sits at the lower end, while a lateral-window lift with more graft material runs higher — plus the graft material used and whether it's staged with extractions or implants. Most of the time it's billed as part of your overall implant treatment. We give you a written estimate before any work starts and verify your benefits up front. Village Dental is in-network with the major dental insurance providers below.
Please note: We do not accept Medicaid. If you're uninsured, ask about the Village Dental Membership Plan — it bundles your preventive visits and gives you a discount on additional treatment, including implant-related care like sinus augmentation.
New patients: Your first exam and X-rays are free. If you've been told an upper implant needs more bone first, that's an easy place to start.
Four Triangle Locations
Get Sinus Augmentation at the Village Dental Nearest You
Sinus augmentation is available at all four Village Dental offices across the Raleigh area. Pick the location that's easiest for you — each page has that office's hours, directions, and online scheduling. Not sure which is closest? Browse all Village Dental locations.
Sinus Augmentation in Raleigh — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does sinus augmentation cost in Raleigh?
Sinus augmentation cost depends on the approach — a minor crestal lift done at the same time as an implant is the most affordable, while a lateral-window lift with more graft material costs more. It's usually billed as part of your overall implant plan. We give you a written estimate before any work starts and verify your benefits first. We're in-network with Delta Dental Premier, Cigna PPO, BCBS Grid, and United Concordia Elite. Call (919) 205-4829 for an estimate.
Which Village Dental location offers sinus augmentation?
All four. Village Dental plans and performs sinus augmentation at our Olde Raleigh, North Raleigh, Brier Creek, and Wake Forest offices, each using 3D cone-beam imaging to map the sinus before treatment. Pick whichever office is easiest and book there directly. Call (919) 205-4829 or check all our locations to find the nearest one.
How long does sinus augmentation take, and how many visits?
It varies by case. The lift itself is usually a single appointment of about an hour. If only a small lift is needed, the implant can sometimes go in the same day; if more bone is required, the graft heals first and the implant is placed later. Healing before implants typically runs six to nine months. Call (919) 205-4829 to map out your timeline at any Village Dental office.
Does a sinus lift hurt?
No. The procedure is done under local anesthesia, so you're numb the whole time and shouldn't feel pain during it. Afterward, most people compare it to a tooth extraction — some swelling and pressure for a few days, managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. If dental anxiety is part of why you've waited, ask about sedation options. Call (919) 205-4829 to talk it through.
Will my insurance cover sinus augmentation at Village Dental?
Often, at least in part. Many plans cover a portion of sinus augmentation when it's tied to a medically necessary implant. We're in-network with Delta Dental Premier, Cigna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Grid, and United Concordia Elite, and we verify your benefits before treatment so you know your out-of-pocket cost up front. We do not accept Medicaid. Call (919) 205-4829 with your insurance card handy.
What is the difference between a sinus lift and bone grafting?
They're related but not the same. Bone grafting is the general term for adding bone anywhere in the jaw; a sinus lift is a specific graft that raises the floor of the maxillary sinus to create height for an upper-back implant. A sinus lift always involves grafting, but not every graft is a sinus lift. Call (919) 205-4829 and we'll explain which your case needs.
What is recovery like, and how long before I can get implants?
Recovery is usually straightforward. Expect mild swelling and pressure for a few days, and we'll ask you to avoid blowing your nose hard or flying for a short window while the membrane settles. The grafted bone then matures over about six to nine months, after which it's permanent and ready to support a dental implant for the long term. Call (919) 205-4829 with any recovery questions.
Am I a candidate for a sinus lift?
You might be if you've lost an upper-back tooth and want an implant but don't have enough bone height for one. The only way to know is a 3D scan that measures your bone and sinus position. Healthy adults are usually candidates; heavy smoking or active sinus infections can affect timing. Call (919) 205-4829 to schedule an evaluation at any Village Dental location.
Is there a sinus lift dentist near me in North Raleigh or Brier Creek?
Yes. Village Dental performs sinus augmentation at our North Raleigh office on Six Forks Road and our Brier Creek office off Brier Creek Parkway, plus Olde Raleigh and Wake Forest — so there's a sinus lift dentist near you wherever you are in the Raleigh area. Call (919) 205-4829 to book at the office closest to you.