A Prospective Cohort Study of Maxillary Sinus Complications in Relation to Treatments with Strategic Implants® Penetrating Into the Sinus.

INTRODUCTION

Rehabilitation with dental implants of total or partial edentulousness in the maxilla encounters a number of difficulties due to the anatomical distinctions and the topography of this region. The maxilla is rigidly attached to the other skull bones, and therefore, its structure is functionally adapted to transmit loads through three main buttresses. Outside these supporting zones, the bone structure is poorly mineralized, or its volume is limited to the thin bone layer. In strategic implantology, a number of defined clinically-proven surgical methods have been proposed to utilize these maxillary load transmitting buttresses. This study was aimed to evaluate its safety with respect to maxillary sinus complications as a result of anchoring Strategic Implants in the cortical boundaries of the sinus and/or passing through it, to reach the pterygoid plate of the sphenoidal bone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study was carried on 217 cortico-basal implants penetrating through the cortical walls of the maxillary sinus (Simpladent GmbH, Gommiswald, Switzerland), placed between September 2013 and December 2014 in a total of 70 patients (131 maxillary sinuses). Two hundred and four implants were anchored in the cortical bone of the sinus protruding into the sinus up to 3 mm, and 13 were placed trans-sinuously.

RESULTS

None of the implants failed during the observation period, with only one instance of adverse reaction in the maxillary sinus to the polished corticobasal implants.

DISCUSSION

Anchoring polished corticobasal implants in the wall of the maxillary sinus as well as in the pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone is a safe and effective procedure that (if executed properly) does not cause any adverse reaction of the maxillary sinus.