Mini-lateral windows for minimally invasive maxillary sinus augmentation: case series of a new technique.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this article was to introduce a new technique for minimally invasive lateral window sinus augmentation, developed to maximize the amount of residual lateral wall after the procedure.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fourteen consecutive patients requiring maxillary sinus augmentation by a lateral approach and delayed implant placement were treated using standardized mini-lateral windows. Before the procedure, the remaining height of alveolar bone was determined; 6 months after the procedure, the augmented height and augmented width were measured. The extent of the antrostomy was calculated using a gauge and compared with a conventional window size.

RESULTS

A total of 15 maxillary sinus augmentation procedures were performed in 14 patients using this technique. Every patient received the planned implant treatment 6 months after the sinus augmentation procedure. The average residual bone height was 2.1 ± 1.1 mm, the average augmented height was 13.4 ± 3.4 mm, and the average augmented width was 19.0 ± 5.5 mm. The average total area of the antrostomy was calculated to be 59.2 ± 12.8 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this case series study suggest that this technique allows for the achievement of a similar result as with conventional size windows, but with a significantly smaller total window area.