Simulation of sinus floor augmentation with symphysis bone graft using three-dimensional computerized tomography.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the maximum amount of harvestable bone graft in the mandibular symphysis and the augmentation volume needed for different sinus lift levels (from 10 to 18 mm), in addition to calculating which sinus lift level can be acquired using the individual's symphysis bone graft volume with three-dimensional computerized tomography (3D CT) and software. Data from 15 CT scans was obtained from 15 adult patients (10 males, five females). The CT data, in DICOM format, was read into Mimics software from Materialize (Leuven, Belgium), with a slice thickness of 0.5 mm. The mandibular symphysis bone graft volumes and different levels of sinus lift augmentation volumes were calculated on the 3D images using Mimics software. It was determined that the average symphysis bone volume (3491.08+/-772.12 mm(3)) could provide approximately 14 mm of sinus lift height (3167.84+/-1067.65). 3D CT techniques and software can be used to calculate the required graft volume for sinus floor augmentation and symphysis bone graft volume, and the mandibular symphysis region can provide adequate bone volume for sinus lift augmentation.