A new method to evaluate volumetric changes in sinus augmentation procedure.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Radiology

Background:

• Accurate assessment of grafted material volume is critical in sinus augmentation procedures for both clinical practice and dental research.
• Evaluating the characteristics of bone graft substitutes used in sinus lifts is essential for treatment success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the repeatability of a novel method for evaluating volumetric changes after sinus lift augmentation.
• To validate a new technique for quantifying changes in grafted material volume in the maxillary sinus.

Main Methods:

• Maxillary sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant placement was performed in 10 patients.
• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were acquired 1 week (T1) and 6 months (T2) post-surgery.
• A standardized volume of interest (VOI) using an intra-implant reference point was analyzed for graft and bone tissue volume changes by expert and non-expert operators.

Main Results:

• The developed method demonstrated high repeatability with a method error of only 1% for both intra-operator and inter-operator measurements.
• Significant tissue contraction of the grafted material was observed, averaging 19 ± 4% of the initial volume at 6 months post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• The standardization of this new method enables repeatable and reliable measurements of volumetric changes in sinus augmentation.
• This technique provides a valuable tool for assessing the long-term stability and behavior of bone graft materials in sinus lift procedures.