Osseodensified Crestal Sinus Window Augmentation: An Alternative Procedure to the Lateral Window Technique

Abstract

A novel minimally invasive technique, osseodensification, is proposed to facilitate maxillary sinus bone graft augmentation. The osseodensified crestal window overcomes the previous limitations of traditional crestal approaches with respect to residual bone height (RBH) of ≤1.5 mm as well as vertical height of augmentation (>10 mm). Three patients, healthy and non-smoking, with 3 distinct and difficult clinical situations requiring sinus augmentation and having a maximum of 1.5 mm RBH (0.4-1.5 mm) were selected for this procedure. Edentulous sections were large (entire posterior sextant, with and without sinus septa), and small (single hyperpneumatized maxillary molar site). All healing was rapid and uneventful with no instances of sinus membrane perforation or other complications seen. The vertical increase in sinus bone height ranged from 10.3 mm to 13.6 mm. The increase in bone height is comparable to that obtained with lateral window procedures. The osseodensified crestal sinus window technique may be thus be proposed as a possible alternative procedure for the lateral sinus window technique for maxillary sinus bone augmentation.

Keywords: dental implant; lateral window; osseodensification; residual bone height; sinus graft; transcrestal.