Trans-sinus dental implants, for immediate placement when insufficient alveolar height is present: an alternative to...

Low maxillary bone density associated with physiological bone remodeling and resorption accelerated by the presence or history of periodontal disease can prevent implant placement without either ridge and/or sinus augmentation in atrophic maxillary edentulous cases. As an alternative to avoid bone grafting and provide immediacy in restorative treatment care for the patient, remote anchorages to the basal bones of the maxilla of the patient are being used with zygomatic or pterygoid implants. The trans-sinus implant, when indicated can offer a reliable alternative to the zygomatic dental implant in that treatment of the severely edentulous maxilla. This approach is suggested in Bedrossian zones I and II atrophy and when an 'L' (or concave) anterior sinus wall anatomy is present. This approach will be discussed utilizing two case examples on how trans-sinus implants may be considered in treating the maxillary arch.