title: Anatomical preconditions for the palatal sinus floor augmentation—A three-dimensional feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical feasibility of palatal sinus floor augmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 100 men and 100 women, both sinuses were analyzed using computed tomography. The patients were divided into four anatomical groups according to the remaining alveolar bone height: group 1 (0 ≤ × < 4), group 2 (4 ≤ × < 8), group 3 (8 ≤ × < 12), and group 4 (≥12).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 400 maxillary sinuses consisted of 23.5% (n = 94) group 1, 42.75% (n = 171) group 2, 23.5% (n = 98) group 3, and 9.25% (n = 37) group 4 sinuses. Optimal anatomical preconditions for palatal sinus floor augmentations (i.e., ≥5 mm height and <5 mm thickness of the window lid) were found in 93.6% of group 1 sinuses, 73.7% of group 2 sinuses, 23.5% of group 3 sinuses, and 5.4% of group 4 sinuses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The palatal approach is feasible in 93.6% of patients with remnant alveolar height of up to 4 mm. Limitations are alveolar heights of ≤5 mm as well as great palatal thickness and thus limited dimensions for a possible palatal window.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Bernhard Gottlieb Dental University Clinic, Medical University Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: gabriella.dvorak@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dvorak
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pillerstorff
authors.affiliation: Department for Systematic Anatomy, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Traxler
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Radiology, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nemec
authors.affiliation: Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietschmann
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Cranio- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seemann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015921:Dental Implants; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants
keywords: Alveolar bone atrophy; Bone regeneration; Dental implants; Maxillary sinus; Preprosthetic oral surgical procedure; Sinus floor augmentation