Maxillary sinus floor augmention with autogenous bone grafts to enable placement of SLA-surfaced implants: preliminary results after 15-40 months

This study presents preliminary results of placing SLA(R) surfaced ITI(R) implants in conjunction with maxillary sinus floor augmentations using autogenous bone. One hundred and eighty three ITI implants (SLA(R) surface) were inserted after 66 sinus floor elevation procedures in 41 consecutive patients. Forty-eight implants were placed simultaneously and 135 implants in a staged procedure with an average healing time of 4.9 months (148 days) after sinus grafting. Loading of the implants was allowed following an average time of 4.1 months (122 days). The follow-up time was 15-40 months after implant placement. Clinical follow-up consisted of single tooth and panoramic X-rays, and determination of Bleeding On Probing (BOP) and Plaque Index. One implant failed. One hundred and eleven of the inserted implants were used for fixed dentures, 20 for bar constructions, 41 for single crowns, and 11 were loaded provisionally until today. The total 2-year implant survival rate was 99.5%. Keeping the short follow-up period in mind, the encouraging results compared with previous studies, further support the findings of a positive influence of rough surfaces in grafted bone.