Longitudinal response of membrane thickness and ostium patency following sinus floor elevation: a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of sinus floor elevation (SFE) on sinus physiology, including Schneiderian membrane thickness (MT) and ostium patency, using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).


METHODS
Based on pre-established selection criteria, 53 patients in combination with 53 sinuses were referred for SFE with a lateral approach using deproteinized bone mineral. CBCT was performed prior to, immediately after surgery and before staged implant placement. The Schneiderian MT of the elevated region, ostium patency, and other clinical data was evaluated.


RESULTS
The two-stage sinus augmentation technique was applied in 33 males and 20 females. Four membrane perforations were observed during the surgical procedure. The Schneiderian membrane exhibited significant swelling immediately after augmentation (P < 0.0001), but this difference disappeared after a mean healing period of 7.51 months. The corresponding changes were also observed for ostium patency with a tendency of transient obstruction after surgery. Sinuses with flat mucosal thickening or pseudocysts did not present a liability of perforation compared to the normal cases, and the augmentation procedure was not likely to deteriorate the pathology of mucosal thickening or pseudocysts.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that SFE with a lateral approach has no significant influence on MT and ostium patency after the healing period except for postoperative transient swelling and obstruction. Thickened membranes and antral pseudocysts in a small size might not be contraindications to SFE from the standpoint of the surgical impact on the Schneiderian membrane.
Department of Oral Implants, School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Zheng-Ze
ZZ
Guo
Department of Oral Implants, School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Yi
Y
Liu
Department of Oral Implants, School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Lei
L
Qin
Department of Oral Implants, School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Ying-Liang
YL
Song
Department of Oral Implants, School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Chao
C
Xie
Department of Oral Implants, School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
De-Hua
DH
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation / Q000379:methods*
D018786:Bone Substitutes
Schneiderian membrane; computed tomography; dental implants; mucosal thickness; ostium patency; sinus floor elevation