Early implant survival in posterior maxilla with or without beta-tricalcium phosphate sinus floor graft.

PURPOSE: The sinus lift procedure provides a way to increase the amount of available bone and the placement of longer implants. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the survival rates of implants inserted in the posterior maxilla (without sinus lift) to simultaneous implant insertion with sinus lift.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy maxillary sinuses in 62 patients were augmented by beta-tricalcium phosphate and 121 implants were inserted into these augmented sinuses (study group) and 136 implants were inserted in the posterior maxilla in 65 patients (control group). Follow-up times were 29.8 and 32.3 months for the study and control groups, respectively.

RESULTS: One implant in the study group and 1 implant in the control group failed. All other implants in both groups were functioning well without any significant clinical finding. Implant survivals were 99.17% in the study group and 99.26% in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Simultaneous implant insertion and sinus lift with beta-tricalcium phosphate is a safe surgical procedure, and survival rates of implants inserted in the augmented sinus were similar to those of implants inserted in the posterior maxilla without sinus lift.