Indirect sinus floor elevation for osseointegrated prostheses. A 10-year prospective study

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Implant Dentistry
• Periodontology

Background:

• Maxillary posterior edentulism often requires bone augmentation for dental implant placement.
• The indirect/closed sinus floor elevation technique offers a less invasive approach compared to open sinus lifts.
• Evaluating the long-term efficacy of this technique is crucial for predictable implant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clinically assess the indirect/closed maxillary sinus floor elevation technique for osseointegrated implant insertion.
• To evaluate implant survival rates and prosthetic outcomes in the posterior maxilla.
• To compare outcomes with intra-individual controls (implants placed without sinus elevation).

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 31 patients receiving 47 implants via indirect/closed sinus floor elevation.
• No augmentation material was used during the sinus lift procedure.
• A control group of 31 implants in the same patients served as intra-individual comparison.
• Long-term follow-up included clinical checkups and radiographic assessments over 119 months.

Main Results:

• Implant survival rates at 119 months were 93.6% for sinus lift implants and 90.3% for controls.
• A total of 5 implants failed (3 sinus lift, 2 controls) between 3 and 59 months post-loading.
• No significant crestal bone level changes or signs of peri-implant disease were observed.
• No patient experienced sinus-related complications.

Conclusions:

• The indirect/closed sinus floor elevation technique is a successful and predictable method for implant placement in the posterior maxilla.
• This technique achieves high implant survival rates comparable to conventional implant placement.
• It offers a valuable alternative for managing maxillary atrophy without augmentation material.