Background: Previous studies have shown that simultaneous elevation of the sinus mucosal lining and placement of dental implants without graft materials can be a predictable procedure. Nevertheless, few prospective, controlled, and randomized studies have evaluated this technique. The aim of this prospective, controlled, and randomized clinical study is to evaluate whether sinus membrane elevation and simultaneous placement of dental implants without autogenous bone graft can create sufficient bone support to allow implant success 6 months post-surgically.
Methods: Sinus membrane elevation and simultaneous placement of dental implants were performed bilaterally in 15 patients in a split-mouth design. The sinuses were assigned to two groups: the test group, with simultaneous sinus mucosal lining elevation and placement of dental implants without graft materials; and the control group, with simultaneous sinus mucosal lining elevation and placement of dental implants with intraoral autogenous bone graft. After 6 months of healing, abutments were connected. For each implant, length of implant protrusion into the sinus, resonance frequency analysis, and bone gain were recorded at baseline and 6 months follow-up.
Results: Clinical complications were not observed, except for two postoperative fistulas and suppuration in both groups. Only one implant of the test group was lost, reaching a success rate of 96.4% and 100% for the test and control groups, respectively. After healing, radiographic new peri-implant bone was observed in both groups ranging between 8.3 ± 2.6 and 7.9 ± 3.6 mm for the control and test groups, respectively (P >0.05). Resonance frequency analysis values were lower for the control group compared to baseline (P <0.05). However, these values were similar at 6 months (P >0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between the protruded implant length/bone gain and implant survival/sinusitis (P <0.0001).
Conclusion: Implants placed simultaneously to sinus membrane elevation without graft material resulted in bone formation over a period of 6 months.