Implant success remains high despite grafting voids in the maxillary sinus.
OBJECTIVE
Given that the nature and presence of voids present within grafted sinuses following maxillary sinus elevation procedures were not known, nor was the contribution of these factors to implant success, the purpose of this study was to investigate these parameters and their relationship to implant success.


METHODS
This study evaluated data from 25 subjects who had a lateral window maxillary sinus augmentation procedure. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed at baseline and 4 months after surgery. CBCT images were used to evaluate grafted sites prior to implant placement. Using CBCT images, three examiners independently measured bone-grafted areas (BG), void areas (V), and percentage of void areas (V%) from six different sections within grafted sites. The six sections were defined as a cross-sectional (CS) midpoint, CS mesial point, CS distal point, horizontal section (HS) low point, HS midpoint, and HS high point. Implant success was also determined.


RESULTS
The calculated V% (V/BG) for the CS midpoint, CS mesial point, CS distal point, HS low point, HS midpoint, and HS high point were 5.30 ± 6.67%, 5.79 ± 8.51%, 6.67 ± 7.12%, 2.07 ± 2.56%, 5.30 ± 6.62%, and 4.92 ± 5.17% respectively. Implant success after 6 months of follow-up approximated 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Although voids within grafts varied in terms of distribution and size, the V% within the HS low point were significantly smaller compared to those within the CS midpoint and CS distal point, which had the most intra-subject V%. Thus, more attention should be given to the distal aspect of the sinus when compacting graft materials in the lateral wall sinus augmentation procedure. Implant success was not influenced by the existence of voids as implant success remained high.
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Ching-Yu
CY
Tsai
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Carlos
C
Garaicoa-Pazmino
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Kuniyasu
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7467-628X
K
Mori
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Erika
E
Benavides
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Darnell
D
Kaigler
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Yvonne
Y
Kapila
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015921:Dental Implants
bone grafting; cone-beam computed tomography; dental implants; maxillary sinus; sinus floor augmentation