Visit preparation

Can I get a dental implant if I have too little bone at the back of my upper jaw?

Some people with too little bone at the back of the upper jaw may still be able to get a dental implant after an assessment. The dentist checks the remaining bone and the maxillary sinus to see whether more bone is needed and whether grafting and implant placement can be done together.

SinoCareHub Content Team·November 7, 2026·4 min

Find the implant site on the scan

Some people with too little bone at the back of the upper jaw can consider a dental implant after an assessment. The dentist checks how much tooth-supporting bone is left at the planned implant site, how close it is to the maxillary sinus above it, and whether there are problems such as inflammation in the sinus. If needed, the dentist addresses problems that could increase surgical risk first. [1]

If you have already had a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan, bring both the original images and the report. Ask the implant dentist to show you the missing tooth site, the section of bone that would anchor the implant, and the floor of the sinus. If two hospitals offer different plans, these three points can help you ask what each plan is based on. [1]

One operation or two stages

A sinus lift creates space beneath the lining of the sinus floor so more bone can be added. With simultaneous placement, the bone graft and implant are placed in the same operation. With staged placement, the graft comes first. The dentist places the implant later, once they confirm healing is adequate. The plan depends on the amount of bone left, the condition of the surgical site, and whether the implant can be held firmly in place when it is inserted. [1,2]

In a case reported by Beijing Fengtai District Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, the dentist reached the sinus through its side wall, lifted the lining at the floor, placed a bone substitute, and secured the implant during the same operation. The patient completed the second stage of restoration six months later, and the hospital reported improved chewing. That timeline applies to this patient. The published report gives no longer-term follow-up. You can ask your dentist why both procedures can be done together in your case or which step needs to happen first and what you need to wait for. [2]

Does getting the implant mean getting the crown?

Placing the artificial tooth root, fitting a temporary tooth, and fitting the final crown are separate milestones. Even if the bone graft and implant can be placed together, ask whether you will get a temporary tooth that day and what the dentist needs to confirm before fitting the final crown. If the bone conditions are unsuitable, ask the dentist to explain the other ways to replace the tooth. [1–3]

If you plan to spread treatment across several visits, mark which steps require a return to the original hospital and which a local dentist may be able to take over. Before deciding when to travel home, ask the hospital for the implant brand and model, the surgical record, and the images. Have the dentist taking over your care confirm which steps they can handle. [1,2]

How to read an itemized quote

China's National Healthcare Security Administration groups the cost of a routine single-tooth implant under medical services, the implant system, and the crown. A quote can list a crown placement fee and still charge for the crown itself as a separate item. Bone grafting also falls outside the standard medical services package. [4]

When comparing two plans, check whether both include the final crown and the same follow-up services. Then see if the sinus lift, bone substitute, or temporary tooth is listed separately. If you have yet to see the dentist in person, ask the hospital to separate known costs from those it can determine only after the visit. That makes it easier to see which step accounts for the difference between the quotes. [1,4]