Implant Placement With Graftless Sinus Floor Elevation via the Lateral Approach: A Case Series With 4 Years Post-Loading Radiographical Outcomes and Implant Survival Rate.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the radiographical outcomes, survival rate, and amount of bone formation around implants placed during graftless lateral sinus lift approach (GLSLA). Five patients (6 sinus augmentations) were consecutively treated with GLSLA. After Schneiderian membrane elevation and implant insertion, only blood clot was left to fill the new sinus compartment. After 4 months of healing, implants were functionally loaded. in all cases, samples were taken for biopsy at the time of second-stage surgery. The radiographical marginal bone variations and apical bone gain were assessed using cone beam- computed tomography taken 4 months after the surgery (at crown insertion) and after 4 years of loading. A total of 14 implants were placed in a mean initial residual bone height of 3.1 mm (range 1.64 mm). No failure was recorded, and all the implants were successfully loaded yielding a 100% survival rate. Vital bone formation was 33% according to the histomorphometry data. Four years after loading the mean radiographic bone remodeling was 1.3 mm. The mean ridge height was 7.6 mm and the mean apical bone gain amounted for 3.8mm. Within the limitations of this study, the placement of dental implants in conjunction with GLSLA seems to be feasible and accompanied by high implant survival rate.