Clinical and Radiographic Examination of Endoscopically Controlled Indirect Sinus Lift: An In vivo Study

It was the aim of this study to quantify the gain in height of bone at implant sites by endoscopically controlled osteotome sinus floor elevations (ECOSFE) with simultaneous implant placement and to report the number of sinus membrane perforations. An indirect sinus lift was done in 10 patients under endoscopic control with an osteotome technique. The average residual height of the alveolar crest in the posterior maxilla was 5.625 mm. Elevation of the sinus floor was done using conventional sinus floor elevation instruments. A mean elevation of 5.205 mm was achieved. Twenty implants ranging in length from 10 mm to 13 mm (mean implant length 10.65 mm) were placed. As augmentation material, platelet-rich fibrin and autogenous bone were used. The sinus membrane could be visualized throughout the procedure and revealed no perforation. This technique is a safe and well-controlled procedure that allows immediate implant placement following sinus augmentation. It is more acceptable to patients, and can be applied to any implant system.