Maxillary sinus augmentation – relative performance of available biomaterials and the challenge of small studies

Sinus Lift

Mark Steven Howe takes a detailed look at this Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) assessing the relative performance of diffferent biomaterials used for maxillary sinus augmentation. 34 RCTs with 28 different treatment options providing a large number of potential pairwise comparisons although only a small number used direct data. The findings suggest little difference beween the various biomaterials but the available studies are small with only 5 being at low risk of bias.

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Sinus lift for implants in maxilla – graft or not?

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This review of the efficacy of graftless maxillary sinus membrane elevation using the lateral window approach for implantation in the atrophic maxilla included 9 RCTs. While some difference between grafted and graftless sinus lifts were shown at 6 months only a limited number of small short term trials were available.

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Third molars: Factors associated with surgical difficulty

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This review of variables associated with surgical difficulty in the extraction of third molars included 16 prospective cohort studies suggesting a number of variable that may be associated with surgical difficulty.

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Maxillary sinus lifts: with or without grafts?

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This reivew of the efficacy of sinus lift without grafts in atrophic maxilla included 5 small RCTs with the findings suggesting no significant difference in the two approaches

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Sinus lift with dental implants: to graft or not to graft

Dilemma

The Scottish Dental Registrars on a recent review of dental implants combined with sinus augmentation (sinus lift): what is the merit of bone grafting?

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Maxillary sinus lift surgery: does grafting improve outcomes?

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This review of maxillary sinus lift procedures prior to implant placement included 16 observational studies. The studies suggest no difference in outcomes with or without the use of graft material.

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Only weak evidence available of the impact of smoking on survival of implants placed in augmented areas of maxillary sinus

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Grafting to augment the floor of the maxillary sinus prior to placement of dental implants in the resorbed maxillary is an increasingly used technique. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of smoking on the survival rate of dental implants placed in areas of maxillary sinus floor augmentation. Searches were conducted in [read the full story…]

Bone substitutes with autogenous bone show similar short term results to autogenous bone alone for maxillary sinus floor elevation

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Maxillary sinus floor elevation is commonly performed to create sufficient bone fraction to enable the placement of dental implants. The aim of this review was to assess the bone fraction and implant survival rate and to determine whether the bone fraction is affected by the grafting material or growth factor applied. The Medline and the [read the full story…]