Report of the Sinus Consensus Conference of 1996

Retrospective data from sinus floor augmentation bone grafts were collected from 38 surgeons for 1007 sinus grafts that involved the placement of 2997 implants over a 10-year period, with the majority of the implants followed for 3 years or more postrestoration. There were 229 implant failures reported. Various root-form implants and grafting modalities were used. A consensus conference was organized to evaluate the data and reach a consensus on optimal treatment protocols. The complete database demonstrated a 90.0% success rate for implants placed in sinus grafts with at least 3 years of function. Differences in grafting materials, implant surfaces, and timing protocols were statistically analyzed. However, the database was so multivariate and multifactorial that it was difficult to draw definitive conclusions; these must await controlled prospective studies. The consensus conference therefore developed and voted on multiple consensus statements derived by committee review for bone graft materials, type of implants, timing for implant placement, failure analysis, radiographic analysis, indications/contraindications, prosthetics, and nomenclature. Several consensus statements were obtained, the most significant being that the sinus graft should now be considered a highly predictable and effective therapeutic modality.