AUTOLOGOUS BONE-GRAFT TO AUGMENT THE MAXILLARY SINUS IN CONJUNCTION WITH IMMEDIATE ENDOSSEOUS IMPLANTS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY UP TO 5 YEARS

This study reports the successful use of osseointegrated implants to r eplace posterior teeth combined with the autogenous bone graft techniq ue in the sinus. Preliminary data (1 to 6 years experience) of this on e-stage procedure are presented. A total of 33 patients were treated-4 4 sinus grafts were augmented with bone from the anterior iliac crest. Reconstruction was completed with ceramic fixed partial dentures, and there was a follow-up of 3 to 80 months (mean 40.2 months) after load ing. None of the 44 sinus grafts was lost. Of the 121 implants placed eight failed, resulting in a failure rate of 6.6% and a cumulative fai lure rate of 6.8%. Of the 44 prostheses placed in the 44 sinuses, one failed, resulting in a prosthesis stability of 97.7%. Complications we re encountered in three patients (three sinuses, eight implants); trea tments were administered symptoms subsided, and the implants integrate d in two patients (two sinuses, six implants). One patient lost the tw o implant's and the prosthesis, but the graft integrated. No other com plications have since occurred. The results compare favorably with pre vious reports in terms of implant survival and stability. The implant survival rate approached that of implants placed in uncompromised maxi llary bone.