The use of mineralized bone allograft as a single grafting material in maxillary sinus lifting with severely atrophied alveolar ridge (1-3 mm) and immediately inserted dental implants. A 3- up to 8-year retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of mineralized bone allograft alone in sinus floor augmentation with simultaneous implant placement in cases with severe atrophy of the residual maxillary bone (bone height < 4 mm).

METHODS

Thirty-five dental implants were placed in 29 patients who underwent sinus augmentation via traditional lateral window technique from 2008 to 2013. Patients with residual alveolar height between 1 and 3 mm at the site of implantation were included in the study. The height of residual bone was initially estimated by plain panoramic X-ray and reevaluated intraoperatively by precise micrometric measurement at the site of implantation. Implants of 13 mm height and 3.5 or 4.3 mm in diameter were inserted simultaneously. Mineralized bone allograft was used alone to augment the sinus floor.

RESULTS

No wound dehiscence was recorded. In one case there was a postoperative site infection which subsided with antibiotics without implant failure. One implant migrated during the postoperative period to the maxillary sinus and was removed. One implant failed. The remaining 33 implants were successfully loaded. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 8 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Maxillary sinus lift in severely absorbed alveolar ridges with simultaneous implant placement could be safely performed using mineralized allograft alone, rendering the procedure less invasive and less time-consuming.