Sinus lifting procedure. I. One-stage surgery with bone transplant and implants.

A prospective study of one-stage surgery with intrasinus bone transplant and implants has been performed in 26 patients (13 males and 13 females). The aim of the study was to evaluate the success rate with the one-stage sinus lifting procedure in patients with a need for bony augmentation of the alveolar process. Fifteen patients were partially dentate and 11 edentulous. The mean height of the alveolar ridge was 2.5 mm preoperatively (range 1-5.5 mm). 126 fixtures were inserted, 93 in grafted bone and 33 in alveolar bone. Twenty-two patients have been followed for three years, 21 for four years and 11 for five years. The clinical overall survival rate was 69.6% although only 61.2% in grafted bone. Ten of the patients had varying degree of sinusitis post-fixture installation. At the end of the study, 23 patients had permanent bridges. The survival rate was low for inlay supported implants when the one-stage surgical technique was applied. Two-stage surgery may be a safer method.