Short-term retrospective analysis of radiographic evaluation of graft height changes after maxillary sinus floor augmentation with xenograft and simultaneous dental implant placement: a two-dimensional radiographic study.

BACKGROUND: Progressive sinus pneumatization, stable sinus graft height and shrinkage of the graft material after maxillary sinus augmentation represent limitations for clinical practice. METHODS: Seventy-eight maxillary sinus floor augmentations and 83 dental implant positions were performed on 60 patients. The lateral window approach was used for maxillary sinus floor augmentation. A collagenated porcine bone xenograft (OsteoBiol® Gen-Os®, Tecnoss®, Giaveno, Italy) and a collagen membrane (OsteoBiol® Evolution, Tecnoss®, Giaveno, Italy) were used as grafting materials. Vertical bone gain was analyzed immediately after surgery (T1) and after 4 months (T2) via panoramic radiographic measurements with respect to residual bone height (T0), which was measured preoperatively. Graft height changes were evaluated with respect to implant location, diameter, length, brand and sinus graft width. RESULTS: The mean vertical bone gain per implant following simultaneous maxillary sinus augmentation at sites with a residual bone height of less than 4 mm (11.14 ± 1.87 mm) was the highest among all groups (p < 0.001) at the time of baseline surgery. The mean vertical bone gain at the grafted sinus height was significantly lower at 4 months (13.78 ± 1.24 mm) than at baseline (14.58 ± 1.31 mm) (p < 0.001). Four months after baseline surgery, a statistically significant decrease of 5.49% in the change in graft height was associated with graft contraction (p < 0.001). When the mean graft height changes were compared according to the implant location, diameter, length, brand and sinus graft width, no statistically significant differences were observed (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this retrospective study, collagenated porcine bone xenografts can be used successfully as a sinus augmentation material with simultaneous implant positioning and may contribute to improved graft shrinkage in the short term.