Maxillary sinus augmentation – relative performance of available biomaterials and the challenge of small studies

Sinus Lift

Mark Steven Howe takes a detailed look at this Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) assessing the relative performance of diffferent biomaterials used for maxillary sinus augmentation. 34 RCTs with 28 different treatment options providing a large number of potential pairwise comparisons although only a small number used direct data. The findings suggest little difference beween the various biomaterials but the available studies are small with only 5 being at low risk of bias.

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Sinus lift for implants in maxilla – graft or not?

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This review of the efficacy of graftless maxillary sinus membrane elevation using the lateral window approach for implantation in the atrophic maxilla included 9 RCTs. While some difference between grafted and graftless sinus lifts were shown at 6 months only a limited number of small short term trials were available.

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Maxillary sinus lifts: with or without grafts?

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This reivew of the efficacy of sinus lift without grafts in atrophic maxilla included 5 small RCTs with the findings suggesting no significant difference in the two approaches

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Platelet Rich Fibrin as a biomaterial in oral surgery

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This blog on a review of the efficacy of platelet rich fibrin (PRF) in oral surgery procedures was prepared by MSc Students from @UClanDentistry during a workshop with the @TheDentalElf. The review includes 30 small studies of limited quality more high quality studies are needed to assess effectiveness.

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Sinus lift with dental implants: to graft or not to graft

Dilemma

The Scottish Dental Registrars on a recent review of dental implants combined with sinus augmentation (sinus lift): what is the merit of bone grafting?

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Maxillary sinus lift surgery: does grafting improve outcomes?

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This review of maxillary sinus lift procedures prior to implant placement included 16 observational studies. The studies suggest no difference in outcomes with or without the use of graft material.

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Dental implants in atrophic jaws – shorter implants without augmentation may be the first choice

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Six studies involving a total of 837 implants in 335 patients were included in this review comparing implants in augmented bone with short implants in patients with strophic jaws. The findings suggest better outcomes, fewere failed implants and complications with short implants.

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Available evidence is insufficient to show if sinus lift techniques or short implants are more effective in reducing failures of dental prostheses

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The amount of bone available in the upper jaw following the loss of teeth is reduced to alveolar bone loss and the presence of the maxillary sinus. Sinus lift procedures increase bone volume by augmenting the sinus cavity with autogenous bone or commercially available biomaterials, or both. This review is an update of the 2010 [read the full story…]

Bone substitutes with autogenous bone show similar short term results to autogenous bone alone for maxillary sinus floor elevation

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Maxillary sinus floor elevation is commonly performed to create sufficient bone fraction to enable the placement of dental implants. The aim of this review was to assess the bone fraction and implant survival rate and to determine whether the bone fraction is affected by the grafting material or growth factor applied. The Medline and the [read the full story…]