Radiographic graft changes following maxillary sinus floor augmentation with autogenous bone compared with composite...

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Maxillary sinus floor augmentation is crucial for dental implant placement in atrophic maxillae.
• Graft material selection impacts volumetric stability and bone maturation.
• Long-term radiographic evaluation is essential to understand graft behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare radiographic changes in grafted maxillary sinuses using different biomaterials.
• To assess graft volume, height, and bone density over time.
• To correlate graft characteristics with clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Sixty patients underwent maxillary sinus augmentation with three graft types: autogenous bone, autogenous bone with deproteinized porcine bone mineral, or autogenous bone with biphasic bone graft material.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were taken at baseline, post-surgery, post-prosthetic rehabilitation, and one year after implant loading.
• Radiographic parameters including graft volume, height, and bone density were analyzed.

Main Results:

• All groups experienced significant graft volume and height reduction from immediate post-surgery to one year.
• Graft volume and height were significantly higher at prosthetic rehabilitation and one year in the group using porcine bone mineral.
• Bone density increased significantly in all groups, with the porcine bone group showing higher density at both evaluation points.

Conclusions:

• Combining autogenous bone with deproteinized porcine bone mineral enhances graft volume, height, and density compared to autogenous bone alone or with biphasic bone graft material.
• Despite superior radiographic results, the enhanced graft characteristics did not lead to improved clinical outcomes at one year of functional loading.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term clinical implications of different graft materials in maxillary sinus augmentation.