[Clinical application of sinus floor elevation guided by cone-beam computer tomography]

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Sinus floor elevation is crucial for dental implant success in the posterior maxilla.
• Accurate assessment of bone volume is essential for planning sinus augmentation procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in assessing bone volume.
• To determine the role of CBCT in guiding sinus floor elevation for dental implants.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight patients requiring dental implants in the posterior maxilla underwent CBCT scans.
• Patients were categorized for transcrestal or lateral window sinus floor elevation based on residual bone height.
• Treatment outcomes were evaluated postoperatively.

Main Results:

• CBCT identified bone deficiency in 26 patients, sinus cysts in one, and septa in two.
• Nineteen patients had transcrestal sinus floor elevation, and seven had lateral window procedures.
• All patients received final restorations with satisfactory function and aesthetics.

Conclusions:

• CBCT imaging is vital for assessing bone quality in the posterior maxilla.
• CBCT effectively guides sinus floor elevation procedures, leading to successful implant restorations.