Background To compare a sinus augmentation procedure with a distal displacement of the anterior wall to a standard sinus lifting and grafting with a lateral window approach.
Methods In the displacement group, a sinus surgical fracture results in the distal displacement of the anterior wall by means of an electromagnetic device. In the filling group, a sinus lifting with lateral access and grafting with particulate bone was performed. Bone volume beneath the maxillary sinus was investigated with Computerized Tomography after data superimposition. Clinical and radiological outcomes over 3 years had been evaluated.
Results Forty-three dental implants were enrolled. The surgery of both groups significantly increased the bone volume in the VOIs (p-value≤0.0017) respectively for displacement group from 1.17±0.34cc to 1.53±0.39cc with a final bone volume gain of +0.36±0.17cc and for filling group from 1.24±0.41cc to 1.94±0.68cc with a bone augmentation of 0.71±0.31cc. Two implants early failed in the filling group, attesting the 3-year survival rate to 92.6%(CI95%: 82.7%-100%). Marginal bone loss at the distal aspect was 1.66±0.72mm and 1.25±0.78mm for displacement and filling group, respectively (p-value=0.0497).
Conclusions The study showed an effective bone gain around dental implants at 3-year of survey both for sinus augmented by backward displacement of the anterior wall (+34%) and by sinus lifting with a lateral window approach (+57%).