Elevation of sinus membrane
Lateral and transcrestal elevation of the sinus membrane
It is commonly observed that after extracting a posterior tooth of the maxilla there is insufficient bone volume to allow implant placement. This is due both to the expected absorption of the alveolar crest and to the pneumatosis of the sinus (air cavity in the maxilla).
In these cases grafting materials (bone graft and absorbable membrane) are placed in the sinus, in order to gain the desired bone volume, and in a second stage the implant or implants are placed. Alternatively, the implant or implants can be placed simultaneously with the lifting of the sinus membrane, using again grafting materials. The choice of technique belongs to the clinician and the initial bone volume.
Elevation of the sinus membrane-open technique. In the first picture we can observe the bony window formation and the elevation of the membrane of the sinus. The second picture shows the filling of the sinus with a bone xenograft (a collagen membrane was also placed). The placement of the implants took place 9 months after the first surgery.
Sinus membrane elevation (lateral approach) with simultaneous placement of an osseointegrated implant. The elevation of the sinus membrane, the formation of osteotomy and the placement of the implant with bone xenograft (and collagen membrane) can be observed. The implant was functionaly loaded 9 months later.