A new method of inserting endosseous implants in totally atrophic maxillae

A new method is described (Sailer, 1988) whereby endosseous implants are inserted in the totally atrophic maxilla, the intermaxillary relationship and vertical dimension corrected and a vestibuloplasty performed during one surgical procedure. The method can also be used to treat minor degrees of maxillary alveolar atrophy. The procedure enables 20 mm-long Titanium screws to be used in totally atrophic maxillae. The following surgical procedures are carried out during one operation: A Le Fort I osteotomy, removal of the mucous membrane of the sinus floor, obturation of the denuded maxillary sinus floor by autologous bone grafts from the iliac crest, simultaneous insertion of Titanium screws, fixation of the down-fractured maxilla by miniplates, and a modified submucous vestibuloplasty. Intermaxillary relationship and vertical dimension can be normalized, and the aesthetic results are excellent. To date 35 implants of which none has been lost, have been placed in 5 patients.