Maxillary sinus augmentation using prehydrated corticocancellous porcine bone: hystomorphometric evaluation after 6 months.

Background: Insufficient alveolar bone height often prevents the placement of standard dental implants in the posterior part of edentulous maxilla. In order to increase adequately the vertical dimension of the reabsorbed alveolar process, a sinus lift procedure is often necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate histologic results of a prehydrated corticocancellous porcine bone used in maxillary sinus augmentation.

Methods: Patients (age 18-70 years) with a residual bone height requiring a maxillary sinus augmentation procedure to place dental implants were eligible for this study. All patients were treated with the same surgical technique consisting of sinus floor augmentation via a lateral approach. The space obtained by elevation of the mucosa wall was grafted with prehydrated and collagenated corticocancellous porcine bone. Biopsies were harvested 6 months after the augmentation procedures.

Results: Twenty-four patients were enrolled. The mean percentage of new formed bone was 43.9 ± 18.6% (range 7.5-100%), whereas the mean percentage of residual graft material was 14.2 ± 13.6% (range 0-41.9%). The new bone/residual graft material ratio in the maxillary sinuses was 3.1. The mean soft tissues percentage was 41.8 ± 22.7% (range 0-92.5%).

Conclusion: The present study suggested that porcine bone showed excellent osteoconductive properties and could be used successfully for sinus augmentation. Moreover, the porcine bone showed a high percentage of reabsorption after 6 months; this might be because of the presence of collagen and the porosity of the graft material.