Predictability of simultaneous implant placement in the severely atrophic posterior maxilla: A 9-year longitudinal experience study of 2132 implants placed into 731 human sinus grafts

PURPOSE: One-stage implant placement in the grafted maxillary sinus has traditionally been limited to patients with at least 5 mm of residual bone to ensure complete implant stabilization. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the long-term survival rates of implants with roughened surfaces placed immediately into maxillary sinus grafts in patients with 1 to 5 mm of residual bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2132 microtextured screw-type (n=1374) or hydroxyapatite-coated cylinder-type (n=758) implants were immediately placed into the grafted sinuses of 731 patients. The implants were restored and monitored for up to 9 years of clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Cumulative survival at 9 years was 97.9% (n=2091 implants); 20.4% of the implants were placed in 1 to 2 mm of residual bone. Discussion: Initial implant stability and parallelism were achieved through a combination of meticulous condensation of the particulate bone graft material around the implants, the frictional interface of the roughened implant surfaces and the host tissues, and selection of an appropriate graft material. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous implant placement into sinus floor grafts can be a predictable treatment option for patients with at least 1 to 2 mm of vertical residual bone height when careful case planning and meticulous surgical techniques are used.     

The effect of cigarette smoking and native bone height on dental implants placed immediately in sinuses grafted by hydraulic condensation

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cigarette smoking and residual native bone height on the survival of dental implants placed immediately in grafted sinuses. In this retrospective study, 334 subject records were screened, and 75 subjects (155 implants) were included. Data collection based on treatment notes and radiographs included age, sex, smoking status, sinus floor bone height, dental implant information, and implant survival. The survival rates of implants for nonsmokers and smokers at stage-two surgery were 93% and 84%, respectively. After 12 months of functional loading, the survival rates of implants for nonsmokers and smokers were 87% (81 of 93) and 79% (49 of 62), respectively (P < .000). Analysis revealed that the effect of smoking on implant survival is significant when the preoperative bone height is less than 4 mm, with an 82.4% implant survival rate in nonsmokers compared to 60% in smokers (P < .05). Smoking should be considered as a high risk factor when implants are placed immediately in grafted sinuses, particularly in areas of limited bone height.     

Effects of smoking on the outcome of implant treatment: a literature review.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The use of osseointegrated implants as a foundation for the prosthetic replacement of missing teeth has become widespread in the last decade. Owing to the remarkable success of dental implants, there has been growing interest in identifying the factors associated with implant failure. Given the well-documented deleterious effect of smoking on wound healing after tooth extraction and its association with poor quality bone and periodontal disease, a negative effect of tobacco use on implant success is to be expected. PURPOSE: To establish the relationship between smoking and implant-related surgical procedures (i.e, sinus lift procedures, bone grafts and dental implants), including the incidence of complications related to these procedures and the long-term survival and success rates of dental implants among smokers and nonsmokers based on relevant literature.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant clinical studies published in English between 1990 and 2006 were reviewed. The articles were located through Medline and, manually, through the references of peer-reviewed literature. This was supplemented with a hand search of selected dental journals and text books.RESULTS: The majority of the past and current literature implicates smoking as one of the prominent risk factors affecting the success rate of dental implants with only a handful of studies failing to establish a connection. Most of the studies report the failure rate of implants in smokers as being more than twice that in nonsmokers. These findings are difficult to ignore. There is a statistically significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers in the failure rates of dental implants. Smoking also has a strong influence on the complication rates of implants: it causes significantly more marginal bone loss after implant placement, it increases the incidence of peri-implantitis and affects the success rates of bone grafts. The failure rate of implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses of smokers is again more than twice that seen in nonsmokers.Conclusion: Smokers have higher failure rates and complications following dental implantation and implant-related surgical procedures. The failure rate of implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses of smokers is more than twice that seen in nonsmokers.     

Systematic review of survival rates for implants placed in the grafted maxillary sinus

Based on a systematic review of the literature from 1986 to 2002, this study sought to determine the survival rate of root-form dental implants placed in the grafted maxillary sinus. Secondary goals were to determine the effects of graft material, implant surface characteristics, and simultaneous versus delayed placement on survival rate. A search of the main electronic databases was performed in addition to a hand search of the most relevant journals. All relevant articles were screened according to specific inclusion criteria. Selected papers were reviewed for data extraction. The search yielded 252 articles applicable to sinus grafts associated with implant treatment. Of these, 39 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative data analysis. Only 3 of the articles were randomized controlled trials. The overall implant survival rate for the 39 included studies was 91.49%. The database included 6,913 implants placed in 2,046 subjects with loaded follow-up time ranging from 12 to 75 months. Implant survival was 87.70% with grafts of 100% autogenous bone, 94.88% when combining autogenous bone with various bone substitutes, and 95.98% with bone grafts consisting of bone substitutes alone. The survival rate for implants having smooth and rough surfaces was 85.64% and 95.98%, respectively. Simultaneous and delayed procedures displayed similar survival rates of 92.17% and 92.93%, respectively. When implants are placed in grafted maxillary sinuses, the performance of rough implants is superior to that of smooth implants. Bone-substitute materials are as effective as autogenous bone when used alone or in combination with autogenous bone. Studies using a split-mouth design with one variable are needed to further validate the findings.     

Implant survival rates after maxillary sinus augmentation

Implant therapy in the atrophic posterior maxilla becomes challenging in the presence of reduced maxillary bone height. Sinus augmentation can be performed for resolving this condition prior to implant placement. The aim of this article was therefore to evaluate implant survival rates in the grafted sinus taking into account the influence of the implant surface, graft material, and implant placement timing. A systematic review of the literature was performed. Articles retrieved from electronic databases were screened using specific inclusion criteria, and data extracted were divided according to: graft material (autogenous, non‐autogenous, composite graft), implant surface (machined or textured), and implant placement (simultaneous with grafting or delayed). Fifty‐nine articles were included. Survival rates for implants placed in grafts made of bone substitutes alone and grafts of composite material were slightly better than the survival rates for implants placed in 100% autogenous grafts. Over 90% of implants associated with non‐autogenous grafts had a textured surface. Textured surfaces achieved better outcomes compared with machined surfaces, and this was independent of the graft material. Simultaneous and delayed procedures had similar outcomes. It may be concluded that bone substitutes can be successfully used for sinus augmentation, reducing donor‐site morbidity. Long‐term studies are needed to confirm the performance of non‐autogenous grafts. The use of implants with a textured surface may improve the outcome in any graft type.     

Survival of cylindrical implants in composite grafted maxillary sinuses

Purpose: This retrospective study investigated the survival of dental implants placed in the maxilla after composite grafting of the sinus and an average of 55 months of loading.Patients and Methods: Maxillary sinuses of 88 patients were grafted with autogenous cancellous bone combined with dense hydroxyapatite particles. After an average healing period of 3.4 months, hydroxyapatite-coated titanium endosseous implants were placed. A total of 388 implants were placed in grafted sinus floors, and 82 were placed in onlay grafted nonsinus position in the canine region. The implants were loaded with overdentures and fixed bridges 4 months (mean) after implantation, with a follow-up for a mean of 55 months.Results: The cumulative implant survival was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Implant survival from the time of loading was 89% in full reconstructed cases and 90% in partially edentulous cases. The overall cumulative implant survival rate, including the loss in the surgical stage, was 82%.Conclusion: Implant loss in composite grafted maxillae after 70 months of follow-up was similar to loss in nongrafted maxillae.     

Effects of smoking on implant success in grafted maxillary sinuses.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Cigarette smoking has been identified as a significant risk factor for dental implant treatment. PURPOSE: This retrospective study evaluated the effect of smoking and the amount of cigarette consumption on the success rates of the implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients (16 smokers and 44 nonsmokers) were evaluated for the effects of smoking on osseointegrated implants placed in 84 grafted maxillary sinuses that contained a total of 228 endosseous root-form implants. Seventy implants were placed in 26 maxillary sinuses in smokers, whereas 158 implants were placed in 58 sinuses in nonsmokers. The number of implant failures and the amount of cigarette consumption were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 228 implants, 205 (89.9%) remained in function, after a mean follow-up period of 41.6 months (2 to 60 months). There was a significantly higher cumulative implant success rate in nonsmokers (82.7%) than in smokers (65.3%) (P =.027). Overall cumulative implant success rate was 76%. There was no correlation between implant failures and the amount of cigarette consumption (P >.99). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, cigarette smoking appeared to be detrimental to the success of osseointegrated implants in grafted maxillary sinuses regardless of the amount of cigarette consumption.     

A prospective 1-year clinical and radiographic study of implants placed after maxillary sinus floor augmentation with bovine hydroxyapatite and autogenous bone.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were 1) to evaluate the survival rate of implants placed in maxillary sinuses augmented with bovine hydroxyapatite and autogenous bone 6 months before implant surgery and 2) to estimate dimensional changes of the bone graft with time using a new radiographic method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty maxillary sinuses in 20 consecutive patients with severe resorption (mean, 3.8 mm of remaining alveolar bone) were augmented with a mixture of 80% bovine hydroxyapatite and 20% autogenous bone mixed with fibrin glue to enable the placement of screw-shaped dental implants. After 6 months of primary healing, 108 implants were placed and followed with clinical and radiographic examinations during the first year of loading. Measurements of changes in height, width, and length of the grafted material were made on tomographic Scanora (Soredex Orion Corporation Ltd, Helsinki, Finland) and panoramic radiographs taken 3 and 12 months after grafting and after 1 year of bridge loading. RESULTS: Ten implants in 6 patients were lost during the study (9 before loading and 1 after 1 year of functional loading), for a survival rate of 90.7%. All patients received fixed restorations, and the bridge survival rate was 100% after 1 year of loading. Small (<10%) but statistically significant dimensional changes in the grafted material were seen during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptable short-term results can be obtained with implants placed after the use of bovine hydroxyapatite and autogenous bone for maxillary sinus floor augmentation. These grafts show good resistance to resorption.     

Clinical and histopathological study of simus lift procedure

Sixteen sinuses of 11 patients performed by sinus lift procedure were retrospectively discussed clinically and histopathological investigations from grafted materials. Grafted materials were 10 autogenous bones harvested from 1 iliac crest and 9 chin bones, 1 non-resorbable hydroxyapatite plus mandibular alveolar ridge bone, and 1 mixed of resorbable hydroxyapatite plus human freezed dry bone. Histopathological investigation on several small speciemens taken from grafts of these different materials was performed. New bone formation, small amount of bone resorption and fibrous encapsuling tissue were observed for autogenous bone graft, but new bone formation was delayed around non-resorbable hydroxyapatite particles, and most of all grafted specimens of human freezed dry bone was replaced and encapsulated by fibrous tissues. These results showed that autogenous bone is highly recommended as graft material for sinus lift procedure. Endosseous implants were placed for 8 patients in the first group after an average period of 9.2 months of elevation, and for 2 patients in the second group at the time of elevation. One patient in the third group received a second sinus elevation to prevent maxillary sinusitis by perforating through maxillary sinus membrane following the installation. The survival rate of dental implants with sinus lift procedure was 94.1% after fabrication of prosthesis without any complication.

     

Autologous bone graft to augment the maxillary sinus in conjunction with immediate endosseous implants: a retrospective study up to 5 years.

This study reports the successful use of osseointegrated implants to replace posterior teeth combined with the autogenous bone graft technique in the sinus. Preliminary data (1 to 6 years experience) of this one-stage procedure are presented. A total of 33 patients were treated--44 sinus grafts were augmented with bone from the anterior iliac crest. Reconstruction was completed with ceramic fixed partial dentures, and there was a follow-up of 3 to 80 months (mean 40.2 months) after loading. None of the 44 sinus grafts was lost. Of the 121 implants placed, eight failed, resulting in a failure rate of 6.6% and a cumulative failure rate of 6.8%. Of the 44 prostheses placed in the 44 sinuses, one failed, resulting in a prosthesis stability of 97.7%. Complications were encountered in three patients (three sinuses, eight implants); treatments were administered, symptoms subsided, and the implants integrated in two patients (two sinuses, six implants). One patient lost the two implants and the prosthesis, but the graft integrated. No other complications have since occurred. The results compare favorably with previous reports in terms of implant survival and stability. The implant survival rate approached that of implants placed in uncompromised maxillary bone.     

Maxillary sinus reconstruction with calvarium bone grafts and endosseous implants.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the survival rate for implants placed in maxillary sinuses augmented with autogenous calvarium bone graft and 2) to evaluate the feasibility, complications, and morbidity of this technique as well as patient satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine maxillary sinuses in 58 patients were reconstructed with calvarium grafts between 1992 and 2002 with more than 1 year of prosthetic loading. Two hundred twenty-three implants were placed 3 to 11 months after grafting. Bone levels were measured preoperatively after grafting and 1 year after prosthetic loading. RESULTS: Successful healing was observed in 77 sinuses (97.4%), and 2 patients (2.6%) showed dehiscence and graft loss. All implants integrated; 211 (94.6%) were used for fixed restorations and 12 implants (5.4%) were used in 2 patients for overdentures (6 implants each). The fixed prosthesis survival rate was 100% after 1 year of loading and remained successful in all cases during the follow-up. At the second stage of surgery, crestal bone loss was measured with a caliper. No crestal bone loss was observed in 210 implants (94%). However, in 13 implants (6%), a crestal bone loss between 1.5 and 2.5 mm was observed, but no further bone loss occurred during the follow-up, as shown on panoramic radiography. Panoramic radiograph measurements showed a total bone height (alveolar bone plus grafted bone) of more than 15 mm in all sinuses and of more than 20 mm in 25 sinuses (32.4%) with a mean of 18 mm. Bone levels were maintained during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Calvarium provides graft material of excellent quality and quantity. 2) Satisfactory results can be obtained with implants placed after sinus augmentation with calvarium bone graft as shown in this study with no implant failure. Bone levels, implants, and bridge survival were maintained during the follow-up.     

Factors affecting the survival of implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses: a clinical report

Many factors affect the survival rate of osseointegrated implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses. This clinical report describes the retrospective evaluation of 60 patients with 228 implants placed in 84 grafted maxillary sinuses at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. The factors used to determine the survival rates of these implants were implant type, simultaneous/delayed implant placement, pretreatment bone height, oral hygiene, and cigarette smoking habits. Out of the total 228 implants, 205 (89.9%) remained in function after a mean follow-up period of 41.6 months (range 0 to 60 months). A higher failure rate was associated with the use of non-threaded implants, poor oral hygiene, and smoking. This information may facilitate treatment planning and enhance communication between the dentist and patient regarding the risk/benefit ratio and outcomes of implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses.     

Maxillary sinus augmentation using different grafting materials and osseointegrated dental implants in monkeys. Part IV Evaluation of hydroxyapatite‐coated implants.

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically, histologically and histometrically the use of hydroxyapatite-coated dental implants in conjunction with maxillary sinus augmentation procedures. In 4 adult male Rhesus monkeys (Mucaca muluttu) the 3 maxillary molars on 1 side of the jaws were extracted and the remaining bone between the alveolar crest and the floor of the sinus was reduced to 3–4 mm. After 3 months, maxillary sinus augmentation procedures were performed in each monkey and the sinuses were grafted with a porous hydroxyapatite bone graft (Interpore-200®). At the same time, 2 hydroxyapatite-coated cylinder implants (IMZ®) were immediately placed into the augmented sinuses (i.e. simultaneous-implants-loaded group). Four months later, 2 additional similar implants were placed into the previously augmented sinuses (i.e. delayed-implants-loaded group). After 4 months, the abutment connection was performed, and all 4 implants were loaded with a gold-alloy bridge for 6 months (i.e. until sacrifice of the animals). The contralateral side of each monkey received the same treatment with the exception that removal of the maxillary molars was performed 7 months after those in the opposite side, and that the implants in this side were not loaded. Thus, 2 additional study groups (i.e. simultaneous-implants-unloaded group and delayed-implants-unloaded group) were obtained. Clinically, all loaded and unloaded implants were stable the day of sacrifice. Histologically, the grafted sinuses exhibited a significant amount of new bone formation, with integration of the porous hydroxyapatite graft particles and hydroxyapatite-coat of the dental implants to the new bone. Histometric analysis indicated that on the loaded side the implants placed simultaneously with the sinus lift procedure exhibited greater direct mineralized bone-to-implant contact than the delayed placed implants. In addition, the percentage of direct mineralized bone-to-implant contact was significantly greater in the residual bone in comparison to the augmented area in all groups. Loading of the implants exhibited a positive effect on the percentage of direct mineralized bone-to-implant contact in the augmented area. It could be concluded that hydroxyapatite-coated implants may be of benefit when used in conjunction with sinus augmentation procedures.     

Augmentation grafting of the maxillary sinus and simultaneous implant placement in patients with 3 to 5 mm of residual alveolar bone height.

This study assessed the efficacy of augmentation grafting of the maxillary sinus with simultaneous placement of dental implants in patients with less than 5 mm of alveolar crestal bone height in the posterior maxilla prior to grafting, although the procedure has traditionally been contraindicated based on empirical data. A total of 160 hydroxyapatite-coated implants was placed into 63 grafted maxillary sinuses in 63 patients whose crestal bone height in this region ranged from 3 to 5 mm. Patients were followed for 2 to 4 years after the placement of definitive prostheses. There were no postoperative sinus complications. Following uncovering of the implants at 9 months after surgery, there was no clinical or radiographic evidence of crestal bone loss around the implants. Histologic examination of bone cores from the grafted sites revealed successful integration and a high degree of cellularity. All patients maintained stable implant prostheses during follow-up. These findings indicate that the single-step procedure is a feasible option for patients with as little as 3 mm of alveolar bone height prior to augmentation grafting, utilizing hydroxyapatite-coated implants and autogenous bone.     

A clinical study of the outcomes and complications associated with maxillary sinus augmentation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of complications in maxillary sinus augmentation surgery and the impact of complications on subsequent implant treatment in a patient population with severe maxillary atrophy scheduled for treatment under general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 70 patients (124 sinuses) with severe maxillary atrophy who underwent maxillary sinus augmentation. Sixteen patients were scheduled to have a unilateral procedure and 54 patients a bilateral procedure. Sinus augmentation was performed with autogenous bone alone in 93 sinuses; in 31 sinuses, a 1:1 mixture of autogenous bone and corticocancellous pig bone particles was used. Twenty-six of 124 procedures involved both sinus augmentation and autogenous block grafting for the treatment of severely atrophic maxillae. RESULTS: The most common intraoperative complication was the perforation of the sinus membrane, which was observed in 31 sinuses (25%). Seven (5.6%) sinuses in 7 patients exhibited suppuration of the maxillary sinus. Five of the 7 patients with sinus infection were smokers, showing a prevalence of complications significantly greater in smokers compared to nonsmokers. Moreover, the use of an onlay bone graft in conjunction with sinus augmentation appeared to significantly increase the rate of infective complications. Infections were treated by drainage and the administration of systemic antibiotics. Two clinical cases showing persistent signs of infection required an endoscopic inspection of the maxillary sinus. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In the present study sinus membrane perforation was not shown to be a significant factor in the rate of implant complications. However, the combination of smoking and onlay bone grafting could significantly increase the rate of postoperative infection following sinus grafting.     

Dental implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses: a retrospective analysis of clinical outcome according to the initial clinical situation and a proposal of defect classification

Objective of the study: To present a classification of maxillary defects necessitating sinus floor elevation procedures (SFEPs) with two objectives: (a) to propose a standardization of surgical procedures according to initial type of atrophy and (b) to allow the evaluation of the success/survival rates of implants placed in the grafted areas according to the initial situation. Materials and methods: Nine‐hundred and fifty‐two consecutive SFEP were performed on 692 patients. Initial defects were classified according to a new classification, which considered not only residual bone height below the sinus but also the width of the alveolar crest and horizontal/vertical intermaxillary relationship. Results were evaluated according to the different classes. The sinuses were grafted with autogenous bone taken from intra‐oral or extra‐oral sites: 579 SFEP were associated with vertical and/or horizontal onlay grafts to correct concomitant alveolar ridge deficits. A total of 2037 implants were inserted into the grafted sinuses either immediately or 4–6 months later. Three to 6 months afterwards, implants were loaded. The mean follow‐up was 59 months (range: 12–144 months). Results: The success rate of the reconstructive procedures varied between 93.2% and 100%, according to class of atrophy; the overall survival and success rates of implants were 95.8% and 92.5%, respectively, whereas the survival and success rates according to class of atrophy varied between 90% and 97.6%, and between 85.4% and 95.5%, respectively. Lower success rates were found in classes presenting with more severe atrophy. Conclusion: The results obtained demonstrated that sinus floor elevation, alone or in association with reconstructive procedures with autogenous bone grafts, is a reliable procedure to allow implant placement in atrophic edentulous maxillae, irrespective of the initial clinical situation. However, it must be underlined that the success rates of reconstructive procedures and implants differ according to class of atrophy, showing lower success rates in classes presenting with more severe atrophy.     

Bone reformation and implant integration following maxillary sinus membrane elevation: an experimental study in primates

Background: Recent clinical studies have described maxillary sinus floor augmentation by simply elevating the maxillary sinus membrane without the use of adjunctive grafting materials. Purpose: This experimental study aimed at comparing the histologic outcomes of sinus membrane elevation and simultaneous placement of implants with and without adjunctive autogenous bone grafts. The purpose was also to investigate the role played by the implant surface in osseointegration under such circumstances. Materials and Methods: Four tufted capuchin primates had all upper premolars and the first molar extracted bilaterally. Four months later, the animals underwent maxillary sinus membrane elevation surgery using a replaceable bone window technique. The schneiderian membrane was kept elevated by insertion of two implants (turned and oxidized, Brånemark System®, Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) in both sinuses. The right sinus was left with no additional treatment, whereas the left sinus was filled with autogenous bone graft. Implant stability was assessed through resonance frequency analysis (Osstell^TM, Integration Diagnostics AB, Göteborg, Sweden) at installation and at sacrifice. The pattern of bone formation in the experimental sites and related to the different implant surfaces was investigated using fluorochromes. The animals were sacrificed 6 months after the maxillary sinus floor augmentation procedure for histology and histomorphometry (bone‐implant contact, bone area in threads, and bone area in rectangle). Results: The results showed no differences between membrane‐elevated and grafted sites regarding implant stability, bone‐implant contacts, and bone area within and outside implant threads. The oxidized implants exhibited improved integration compared with turned ones as higher values of bone‐implant contact and bone area within threads were observed. Conclusions: The amount of augmented bone tissue in the maxillary sinus after sinus membrane elevation with or without adjunctive autogenous bone grafts does not differ after 6 months of healing. New bone is frequently deposited in contact with the schneiderian membrane in coagulum‐alone sites, indicating the osteoinductive potential of the membrane. Oxidized implants show a stronger bone tissue response than turned implants in sinus floor augmentation procedures.     

Maxillary sinus augmentation using different grafting materials and dental implants in monkeys. Evaluation of autogenous bone combined with porous hydroxyapatite.

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically, histologically, and histometrically the use of autogenous bone combined with porous hydroxyapatite (Interpore 200®) as a grafting material for maxillary sinus augmentation procedures. In 4 adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) the 1st, 2nd and 3rd maxillary molars on one side of the jaws were extracted. After a healing period of 3 months. maxillary sinus augmentation procedures were performed in each monkey, and the sinuses were grafted with autogenous bone from the monkeys' tibia mixed in a 3:1 ratio with porous hydroxyapatite. At the same time. 2 pure titanium plasma-sprayed IMZB cylinder implants were immediately placed into the augmented sinuses (i.e. simultaneous implants-loaded group). After 4 months, 2 additional similar implants were placed into the previously augmented sinuses (i.e. delayed implants-loaded group). Four months later, the abutment connection was performed and all 4 implants were loaded with a gold-alloy bridge for 6 months (i.e. until sacrifice of the animals). The contralateral side of each monkey received similar treatment with the exception that the extractions were performed 7 months after those in the opposite side and that the implants were not loaded. Thus, 2 additional study groups (i.e. simultaneous implants unloaded group and delayed implants unloaded group) were obtained. Clinically, all loaded implants were stable at the day of sacrifice. Histologically, the grafted sinuses exhibited a significant amount of new bone formation. The porous hydroxyapatite granules appeared integrated with the newly formed bone. Histometric analyses revealed that delayed implant placement resulted in a greater amount of direct mineralized bone-to-implant contact in the augmented area than the simultaneous implant placement. Furthermore, the percentage of direct mineralized bone-to-implant contact was far more significant in the residual bone than in the augmented area. It was concluded that the autogenous bone/porous hydroxyapatite graft combination enhanced bone formation and mineralized bone-to-implant contact in the augmented sinuses and that the delayed implant placement may be favorable for sinus augmentation procedures.     

Maxillary sinus floor augmentation using bioactive glass granules and autogenous bone with simultaneous implant placement. Clinical and histological findings

This clinical study was undertaken to: 1) evaluate the use of bioactive glass Biogran combined with autogenous bone as grafting material for maxillary sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant placement using radiography and histology; and 2) document the short-term post-loading success of implants inserted in sinus cavities augmented with this material. Unilateral or bilateral sinus augmentation was performed in 12 patients with 3-5 mm of alveolar crestal bone height in the posterior maxilla prior to grafting. The sinuses were grafted with bioactive glass mixed in a 4:1 ratio with autogenous bone. Simultaneously, 2-3 threaded titanium implants were inserted into the augmented sinuses. Second stage surgery was carried out 9 to 12 months post implantation. At abutment connection, 10 core biopsy specimens were taken from different grafted sites and evaluated histologically. All 27 implants were clinically stable at second stage surgery. A mean increase in mineralized tissue height of 7.1 +/- 1.6 mm was evident when comparing the pre-surgical CT scans with those performed 9-12 months following the sinus augmentation procedure. Evaluation of the cores yielded a mean of 30.6 +/- 5.7% of bone tissue in the grafted sites. One implant failed during the prosthetic phase while the remaining 26 implants were stable 12 months post loading. This study suggests that Biogran/autogenous bone graft combination used in one-stage sinus augmentation yields sufficient quality and volume of mineralized tissue for predictable simultaneous implant placement in patients with 3-5 mm of bone height prior to grafting.     

Immediate loading of the grafted maxillary sinus using platelet rich plasma and autogenous bone: a preliminary study with histologic and histomorphometric analysis

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this clinical study was to evaluate dental implant survival rates using the concept of a nonfunctional, immediate loading protocol with nonsplinted dental implants in the grafted maxillary sinus during a 52-week period. Random histomorphological and histomorphometric analysis was completed to evaluate the early healing effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and 50% autogenous bone combined with 3 different substitute graft materials. MATERIALS: Four to 8 months after grafting the sinus with PRP sprayed autogenous bone combined with 3 different substitute graft materials in a 50:50 composite ratio, 27 hydroxyapatite- coated dental implants were surgically placed in 41 patients and immediately loaded between 48 hours and 5 days later with custom titanium abutments and acrylic provisional restorations placed out of functional occlusion. Six months later, definitive ceramometal restorations were cemented on to the custom abutments. RESULTS: During a 52-week observation period, no implants were lost. Between 4 and 8 months of graft healing time, histologic and histomorphometric analysis revealed formation of new vital bone in different graft specimens ranging from 77% to 100%. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of this clinical study indicate that immediate nonfunctional loading using PRP and 50% autogenous bone combined with different substitute graft materials is a predictable protocol in the grafted maxillary sinus as early as 4 months of postgrafting. The high implant survival rate is due to the early formation of large percentages of new vital bone as confirmed by using histologic and histomorphometric analysis.