Volumetric dimensional changes of autogenous bone and the mixture of hydroxyapatite and autogenous bone graft in...

This multislice tomographic study evaluated the dimensional changes after maxillary sinus augmentation using autogenous bone or a mixture of hydroxyapatite and autogenous bone.

Ten selected patients, requiring a bilateral maxillary sinus augmentation, were divided, in a split mouth, design as follows: control group (CG n = 10 sinus grafted with autogenous bone) and test group (TG, n = 10 sinus grafted with a mixture of hydroxyapatite and autogenous bone at 80 : 20 w/w). Follow a healing period of 15 and 180 days, computed tomography (CT) measurements were taken by two blinded and calibrated examiners to verify the volumetric dimensional changes of the both groups.

The interobserver agreement obtained ranged from good to excellent for both groups. Both groups presented significant dimensional changes after 180 days period healing (P < 0.05). The volumetric reduction in test group was lower (25.87%) when compared with the CG (42.30%) (P < 0.05).

The both graft materials improved the bone volumetric ability to anchorage a dental implant. Moreover, the mixture of HA and autogenous bone graft showed lower degree of resorption and higher dimensional stability when compared with autogenous bone graft alone, at least at 180 days of healing. The CT exam protocol should be used as an important tool to measure bone grafts volumetric alterations.