title: Transcrestal sinus lift and implant placement  using the sinus balloon technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A description is made of transcrestal sinus lift using the sinus balloon technique, evaluating the bone height achieved and implant success one year after prosthetic loading.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January and July 2007, transcrestal sinus lift using the sinus balloon technique for dental implant placement was carried out in 6 patients. A panoramic X-ray study and maxillary computed tomography scan were carried out before the operation, in order to discard possible sinus pathology. During the intervention, the integrity of the sinus membrane was evaluated using a Medi Pack Pal endoscope (Farol Store and Co., Tuttlingen, Germany), and the intraoperative complications were analyzed. The dental implants were placed in the same surgical step in the presence of 3 mm or more of residual bone. Following the operation, panoramic X-rays were used to assess the bone height gained. One year after prosthetic loading, the implant success rate was determined based on the criteria of Buser.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient was excluded due to Schneider's membrane perforation as confirmed by endoscopy. Transcrestal sinus lift was carried out in 5 males with a mean age of 41.6 years (range 27-51), without antecedents of sinus disease. There were no intraoperative complications. In four patients the implants were placed simultaneous to sinus lift, while in another case implant placement was postponed due to insufficient remaining bone height. The mean gain in height after the operation was 8.7 mm. One year after prosthetic loading, the implant success rate was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcrestal sinus lift using the sinus balloon technique is a minimally invasive procedure. In 5 patients the bone height gained proved sufficient to allow implant placement even in the presence of 3 mm of residual bone.
authors.affiliation: Valencia University Medical and Dental School, Valencia, Spain. Miguel.penarrocha@uv.es
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peñarrocha-Diago
authors.forename: Sónnica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galán-Gil
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrillo-García
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peñarrocha-Diago
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peñarrocha-Diago
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003757:Dental Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation / Q000295:instrumentation*