The influence of substitute materials on bone density after maxillary sinus augmentation: a microcomputed tomography study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether adding bone substitute materials to autogenous particulated bone (PAB) might have an effect on the density of the grafted bone after maxillary sinus augmentation.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Thirty healthy patients undergoing lateral antrostomy were included. Sinuses were augmented at random with PAB (n=10) (control group); a mixture of PAB and beta-tricalcium phosphate (Β-TCP) (n=10) (experimental group); or a mixture of PAB, Β-TCP, and hydroxyapatite (HA) (n=10) (experimental group). A sample of each graft material was obtained at time of maxillary sinus augmentation, and microcomputed tomography (Μ-CT) analyses were performed. Five months later, samples of the augmented areas (n=23) were harvested by means of a trephine bur, and Μ-CT analyses of these samples were performed. Density values for the bone were compared to the data obtained 5 months before from the original material.

RESULTS

All groups showed increasing density values after a healing time of 5 months. Because of a high dropout rate, the sample size was too small to compare the groups statistically.

CONCLUSIONS

Bone density increased after maxillary sinus augmentation for both PAB alone or in combination with substitute materials based on HA and/or Β-TCP particles. A larger sample size and a split-mouth design would help to reliably reveal significant differences between the single materials.