Following the loss of a premolar or molar, posterior maxilla bone height is often insufficient for implant placement. Sinus floor elevation creates more bone height, either via a transcrestal approach or through a lateral window.

Augmentation can be conducted before implant placement (two-stage surgery) or simultaneously (single surgery). Posterior maxilla residual bone and sinus anatomy must be analysed before planning the technique and timing of implant placement. The following table shows a simplified summary of the current guidelines¹.

Residual bone height >10 mm (class A)

• Classical implant procedure

Residual bone height 7–9 mm (class B)

• Osteotome technique
• Immediate implant placement

Residual bone height 4–6 mm (class C)

• Lateral antrostomy
• Bone replacement material
• Immediate or delayed implant placement

Residual bone height 1–3 mm (class D)

• Lateral antrostomy
• Bone replacement material
• Delayed implant placement

General remark: Immediate implant placement is not recommended with residual bone height <4 mm or poor bone quality. 

The high reliability of Geistlich biomaterials for these indications has been shown in numerous sinus augmentation studies^2-5. Evidence indicates that xenogenous materials produce better long-term results in sinus floor elevation than autogenous bone chips.⁶
Application of a membrane such as Geistlich Bio-Gide^® increases implant survival rate significantly.⁷ Geistlich Bio-Gide^® can also be placed to protect a perforated Schneiderian membrane during surgery and healing.⁸

Alternatives to sinus floor elevation

Both Ridge Preservation and short implants can be regarded as alternatives to sinus floor elevation. Ridge Preservation directly after tooth extraction is a minimally invasive approach allowing preservation of >90% of bone volume in the posterior region.⁹ Following Ridge Preservation, standard implant placement can usually be performed without the need for additional bone augmentation.¹⁰

Even though long implants are considered the best option, short implants (<10 mm) can be a valid alternative. Advances in surface geometry and texture have increased the bone-to-implant contact area, leading to improved primary stability and longterm osseointegration.¹¹
However, short implants have certain limitations, such as an unfavorable crown-to-implant ratio, poor aesthetics in the anterior atrophic maxilla and difficult plaque control. In addition, in cases with marginal bone loss, the risk of implant failure is increased due to reduced bone to implant contact.¹²
 

More than 300 studies on sinus floor augmentation with Geistlich biomaterials document how well studied Geistlich products are in this indication.¹³

References:

1. Jensen OT, et al.: International J Oral Maxillofac Impl 1998; 13 Suppl: 11-45.
2. Valentini P, Abensur D: Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1997; 17(3): 232-41.
3. Valentini P, et al.: Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2000; 20(3): 245-53.
4. Traini T, et al.: J Periodontol 2007; 78(5): 955-61.
5. Valentini P, et al.: Clin Oral Implants Res 1998; 9(1): 59-64.
6. Aghaloo TL, Moy PK: Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2007; 22: 49-70.
7. Pjetursson BE, et al.: J Clin Periodontol 2008; 35 (Suppl. 8): 216-40.
8. Alayan J, Ivanovski S: Clin Oral Implants Res 2018; 29(2): 248-62.
9. Rasperini G, et al.: Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2010; 30(3):265-73.
10. Weng D, et al.: Eur J Oral Implantol 2011 ; 4 (Suppl): 59-66.
11. Jain N, et al.: J Clin Diagn Res 2016; 10(9): Ze14-ze17.
12. Palacios JAV, et al.: Clin Oral Investig 2018; 22(1): 69-80.
13. Pubmed February 2017. Search term “Bio-Oss” and “Sinus”.