Maxillary sinus augmentation using mandibular bone grafts and simultaneous installation of implants. A surgical technique

This paper presents a specific technique for maxillary sinus augmentation and simultaneous placement of implants in partially edentulous patients. In such patients, there is from time to time insufficient interarch distance for any type of onlay grafting. Health, non-smoking patients without previous or present sinus pathology, where the radiological and clinical examination revealed insufficient height and/or width of the remaining alveolar process in the posterior maxillary region, were selected. They were operated on using a mandibular bone graft obtained from the symphyseal region between the mental foramina and placed in the maxillary sinus. The recipient site was prepared by cutting in a rectangular shape the lateral sinus wall into the sinus lining. The bone wall was then separated towards the lateral nasal wall by rotating the inferior portion of the cut sinus wall medially. In the space thus created, the bone graft was placed. Fixtures were installed at the same session. The method described has proved to be uncomplicated to perform under local anesthesia and no major disadvantages for the patient or pre- or postoperative complications have so far been observed.