Endoscope-assisted maxillary sinus floor augmentation with a mini-lateral window: A retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Oral Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Maxillary sinus floor augmentation is crucial for dental implant placement in atrophic maxillae.
• Traditional lateral window approaches carry risks of complications and postoperative discomfort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of endoscope-controlled sinus floor augmentation via a mini-lateral window with the traditional lateral window approach.
• To evaluate bone gain, bone density, and complication rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 19 patients (20 sinuses) comparing mini-lateral window (test) with traditional lateral window (control).
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) assessed bone height and density at multiple time points.
• Intraoperative/postoperative complications and pain (Visual Analog Scale - VAS) were recorded.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in endo-sinus bone gain (ESBG) or apical bone height (ABH) between groups.
• Significantly higher bone density increase in the mini-lateral window group (p < 0.05).
• Lower sinus perforation rate (10% vs. 20%) and VAS scores (p < 0.05) in the mini-lateral window group.

Conclusions:

• Endoscope-controlled mini-lateral window sinus augmentation achieves comparable bone height gain to traditional methods.
• The modified approach promotes new bone formation, reduces complications, and alleviates postoperative pain.