Elevation of the maxillary sinus floor with hydraulic pressure.

This study describes a new method using hydraulic pressure to elevate the antral floor for bone grafting between the sinus floor and the schneiderian membrane before placement of endosseous osseointegrated implants. The method was first modeled experimentally in hen eggs, acting as a surrogate sinus, and then in human cadaver preparations. Several clinical case reports are also presented. This technique successfully combines the advantages of the Caldwell-Luc window a pproach, which permits the placement of high bone graft volume, and the simplicity of the osteotome technique by way of the alveolar ridge crest.