Different techniques in transalveolar maxillary sinus elevation: A literature review

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Implantology
• Regenerative Dentistry

Background:

• Posterior maxillary bone deficiency poses challenges for dental implant placement.
• Sinus elevation is a key technique to address vertical bone loss.
• Transalveolar sinus elevation provides a minimally invasive approach for bone augmentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and categorize modifications of the transalveolar sinus elevation technique.
• To outline the indications and benefits of each technique modification.
• To guide clinicians in selecting appropriate sinus elevation methods.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search of PubMed Central and Scopus databases up to December 2020.
• Inclusion of articles detailing novel transalveolar maxillary sinus augmentation techniques with clinical cases.
• Categorization of techniques into five groups: expansion-based, drill-based, hydraulic, piezoelectric, and balloon.

Main Results:

• Twenty-six articles met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Techniques were classified into five distinct categories based on their mechanism.
• Operator expertise, available bone, and equipment access influence technique selection.

Conclusions:

• Various transalveolar sinus elevation techniques exist, each with specific advantages.
• The choice of technique should be individualized based on clinical factors.
• Simultaneous implant placement is recommended when feasible for improved efficiency.