Bone resorption around dental implants placed in grafted sinuses: clinical and radiologic follow-up after up to 4 years.

PURPOSE: The long-term results of endosseous implants depend on the maintenance of bone support. The aim of this study was to evaluate radiologically bone resorption around dental implants placed in grafted sinuses after up to 4 years of function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2001, augmentation of the maxillary sinus floor with alloplastic (Biostite) or xenogenic (Bio-Oss) materials was performed in 34 patients.

RESULTS: Eighteen patients participated in the study. Twenty-six sinus augmentations were performed on these 18 patients, and they received 37 implants. The change in marginal bone level around the implants at the mesial side was 1 mm during the first year after the abutment connection, followed by an annual loss of 0.1 mm. The change in marginal bone level around the implants at the distal side was 1.1 mm during the first year after the abutment connection followed by an annual loss of 0.2 mm.

DISCUSSION: The implant survival rate observed in this study is in line with data previously reported for patients treated with implants in the posterior maxilla without bone atrophy. The results for implants placed into sinuses grafted with Bio-Oss were similar to the results for implants placed in sinuses grafted with Biostite.

CONCLUSION: Although this study involved a limited number of procedures, it confirmed that alloplastic and xenogenic materials can be reliable for bone regeneration in subantral cavities. The angular defects present both at the distal and mesial sides of the implants were comparable to those observed at implants placed in native bone.