Transcrestal sinus floor elevation with a minimally invasive technique.
BACKGROUND
Recently, we proposed a minimally invasive technique to limit the postoperative morbidity of transcrestal sinus floor elevation procedures. The technique is based on the use of specially designed drills and osteotomes. The purpose of the present study is to present data on the clinical outcomes and postoperative morbidity of sinus floor elevation procedures performed using the proposed technique.


METHODS
Fourteen implants were placed in the posterior portions of the maxilla areas of 11 patients using the proposed technique. Postoperative pain and discomfort were assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). The incidences of intra- and postoperative complications were recorded. The position of the grafted sinus floor with respect to the implant apex was assessed on periapical radiographs 6 months post-surgery.


RESULTS
The augmented sites had a presurgery residual bone height of 6.1 mm, whereas the mean length of the implants inserted in augmented sites was 10.3 +/- 0.9 mm. Immediately after surgery, VAS scores for pain and discomfort were 9.4 +/- 13.4 and 17.0 +/- 22.2, respectively. The 7-day VAS score for pain was 2.1 +/- 4.9. No complications were observed during or after the surgical procedure. Six months after surgery, a newly formed mineralized tissue was found at or beyond the level of the implant apex in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed technique represents a suitable option to elevate the sinus floor due to a predictable displacement of the sinus floor and a limited post-operative morbidity.
Trombelli
Leonardo
L
Research Center for the Study of Periodontal Disease, University of Ferrara, Corso Giovecca 203, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. leonardo.trombelli@unife.it
Minenna
Pasquale
P
Franceschetti
Giovanni
G
Minenna
Luigi
L
Farina
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013516:Oral Surgical Procedures, Preprosthetic / Q000379:methods*; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016348:Osseointegration; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015921:Dental Implants