Volume changes of autogenous bone after sinus lifting and grafting procedures: a 6-year computerized tomographic follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate long-term bone remodelling of autografts over time (annually, for 6 years), comparing the block and particulate bone procedures for sinus floor elevation, as well as to evaluate the survival of positioned dental implants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three sinus lift procedures with autogenous bone were performed: seven sinus lift procedures using particulate graft and 10 with block autogenous bone were performed in 17 patients. Employing a software program, pre- and post-surgical computerized tomography (CT) scans were used to compare the volume (V) and density (D) of inlay grafts over time (up to 6 years), and to determine the percentage of remaining bone (%R). All variable (V, D and %R) measurements were then compared statistically.

RESULTS: At the 6-year survey for block form, a resorption of 21.5% was seen, whereas for particulate grafts there was a resorption of 39.2%. Both groups exhibited bone remodelling between the first and second follow-up which was significant regarding volume for the block form and regarding density for the particulate group.

CONCLUSIONS: During the initial period of healing, the cortico-cancellous block bone grafted into the maxillary sinus underwent a negative remodelling of the volume, which is most probably due to graft cortex resorption, coupled with, primarily, an increase in density in the spongious area; for the particulate grafts, significant augmentations in density were obtained. The lack of significant differences among volumes was due to the wide degree of dispersion of the data. The rough data presented in this paper seem to support the use of a bone-block grafting procedure in maxillary sinus augmentation.