Indications for palatal sinus lift: Case series

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Implantology
• Anatomical Variations

Background:

• Open sinus lift is crucial for dental implants in the posterior maxilla when bone height is insufficient.
• The lateral approach is common but can be complicated by thick buccal bone or sinus anatomy.
• An alternative approach may be necessary in specific clinical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify indications for the palatal approach in open sinus lift procedures.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the palatal approach as an alternative to the lateral technique.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzing patient records from Mashhad Dental School.
• Inclusion criteria focused on patients who underwent a palatal approach open sinus lift.
• Pre- and post-operative radiographs were reviewed to assess outcomes.

Main Results:

• Ten patients underwent the palatal approach open sinus lift.
• Indications included previous failed sinus lifts (7 patients), acute palatonasal recess (1 patient), and thick buccal bone (2 patients).

Conclusions:

• The palatal approach serves as an effective auxiliary technique for maxillary open sinus lifts.
• It is particularly useful in cases with significant buccal scarring, thick buccal bone, deep palatonasal recess, or for revision surgeries.
• This method expands treatment options for complex implant cases.