A Modified Transalveolar Sinus Floor Elevation Approach With a Bilaterally Enlarged Osteotomy.

Sinus floor elevation is the most commonly used method for vertical bone augmentation in the maxillary posterior area. This clinical report describes a modified transalveolar approach to elevate the Schneiderian membrane when placing implants on a severely resorbed maxillary posterior ridge with a buccal-palatal width of more than 8.0 mm. In this approach, the osteotomy prepared on the crestal is bilaterally enlarged to 8.0-10.0 mm. The enlarged osteotomies provide better access, allowing instruments to be in direct contact with the bone of the sinus floor and thus elevate the Schneiderian membrane with a reduced risk of perforation.