RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SEVERELY RESORBED MAXILLA WITH A COMBINATION OFSINUS AUGMENTATION, ONLAY BONE-GRAFTING, AND IMPLANTS

Purpose: A new method of reconstruction of the atrophic maxilla by com bining a bilateral sinus floor elevation and cancellous bone graft wit h buccal and labial onlay graft using L-shaped corticocancellous block s from the posterior iliac crest is presented. Patients and Methods: S eventeen patients were treated with this procedure. One hundred one IM Z implants were placed in 14 patients, and 22 Branemark implants were placed in three patients. Patients were observed for 6 months after pr osthetic rehabilitation. Results: All patients were fully rehabilitate d with fixed bridges except one, who prefered an overdenture. Only two implants were lost at the time of the abutment connection. Some bone resorption was seen around six implants. The success rate with this pr ocedure was 92.7% 6 months after prosthetic rehabilitation if implants with bone resorption were considered failures. Conclusions: These pre liminary results indicate that this surgical procedure is suitable for reconstruction of most atrophic maxillas.