Atraumatic maxillary sinus elevation using threaded bone dilators for immediate implants. A three-year clinical study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sinus floor elevation using sequential bone dilators. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients took part in the study (18 women and 12 men) with ages ranging between thirty-six and sixty-three years, selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, who showed a bone deficit in the upper posterior alveolar margin of 5-8 mm in height. Sixty expanded platform internal connection implants were placed with diameters of 4/5/4 mm and lengths varying between 10 (n=10) and 11.5 mm (n=50). Results: Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software. The average intra-sinus bone gain with MP3 biomaterial of porcine origin was 4.13 +/- 0.97 SD mm at the moment of implant placement, 3.90 +/- 1.15 SD mm after twelve months, 3.74 +/- 1.05 SD mm after 24 months and 3.62 +/- 1.75 SD mm after 36 months. Two implants were lost at the moment of prosthesis placement. Conclusions: Alveolar lifting technique in the upper maxilla using bone dilators achieved a 96.6 % implant success rate after a three-year follow-up. Intra-sinus bone biomaterial remodeling was 0.51 +/- 0.08 mm from day zero to the thirty-six-month follow-up. This is a procedure that reduces the amount of surgery necessary and is of both aesthetic and functional benefit to the patient.