Background: This investigation aimed to radiographically assess the variations of graft dimension following maxillary sinus augmentation by the lateral approach. Methods: Eighteen patients (seven males), with a mean age at surgery of 66.5 ± 9.8 (range 52−82) years, were unilaterally treated. Thirty-five dental implants were positioned in the posterior maxilla simultaneously to grafting with heterologous biomaterials. Intraoral radiographs taken at the time of surgery, after six months, and at the longest follow-up (up to nine years after implant placement) were analyzed. The following distances were measured: mesio-distal width of the graft, vertical distance from implant apex to most coronal level of the graft, distance from the mesial aspect of the (mesial) implant to the mesial graft extension; distance from the distal aspect of the (distal) implant to the distal graft extension, and graft height along the implant axis. The dimensional changes with respect to baseline, after six months and at the longest follow-up were calculated. Results: The patient-based mean follow-up was 38.3 ± 30.1 months (range 12−108 months). The mean residual bone height at the mesial and distal aspect of the implants was 3.19 ± 2.05 mm and 2.65 ± 1.60 mm, respectively (p = 0.38). The mean graft width at baseline was 27.95 ± 5.23 mm, and the mean graft width reduction was 10.2 ± 12.7% (2.98 ± 3.62 mm) and 11.3 ± 14.4% (3.36 ± 4.08 mm) at six months and at the latest follow-up. The change was significant at six months (p = 0.005), but did not show significant further variation (p = 0.11). On the mesial and distal aspect, the mean graft extension decreased by 1.56 ± 2.67 mm and 0.84 ± 2.71 mm at the latest follow-up. No significant difference between mesial and distal changes was found (p = 0.24), suggesting that the biomaterial is resorbed homogeneously on both sides. The mean graft height was 11.92 ± 2.53 mm at baseline and decreased by 9.3 ± 9.05% (1.11 ± 1.09 mm) at six months (p < 0.001). Non-significant further changes were found at the latest follow-up (p = 0.10). Conclusions: after early remodeling, heterologous bone substitutes showed a good dimensional stability in the mid-term for maxillary sinus augmentation.
Keywords: biomaterials; lateral procedure; maxillary sinus; sinus augmentation; xenograft.