Lateral Sinus Floor Elevation Without Bone Graft: A Single-Center Retrospective Study of 216 Implants with a Mean...

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of simultaneous implant placement using lateral sinus floor elevation without bone grafting (LSFEWoBG) combined with the osseodensification (OD) technique.

Clinical data from 124 patients who underwent LSFEWoBG simultaneous to implant placement via OD were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were followed up for up to 6 years. Radiographs of the treated sinuses were obtained immediately after the surgery and at their most recent follow-up (mean follow-up time: ~4.1 years). Various parameters-including age, sex, smoking, diabetes, implant characteristics (surface modification and apex design), engaging bone height (EBH), number of implants per sinus elevation, sinus floor morphology (favorable and unfavorable), elevation height (EH), and bone gain-were recorded and analyzed.

A total of 216 implants were placed using the LSFEWoBG combined with OD approach. Nine membrane perforations (5.9%) were identified out of 152 procedures. The overall implant survival rate was 96.12%, irrespective of perforation or sinus morphology. All implant sites showed significant bone gain of > 7 mm. Additionally, there was a strong positive correlation between bone gain and EH, with a 1-mm bone gain corresponding to an approximate increase of 0.8 mm in EH. Individuals who received single implants experienced similar bone gain compared to those with multiple adjacent implants (P > .323). Patients with favorable sinus floor morphology had significantly greater bone gain (P < .001) compared to those with unfavorable sinus floor morphology.

LSFEWoBG combined with OD and simultaneous implant placement achieved a high survival rate up to 6 years, with substantial bone gain strongly correlated with sinus morphology. This technique appears effective and consistent, especially in patients with favorable sinus floor anatomy.