OBJECTIVETo evaluate the success rate of dental implants and the changes of sinus membrane thickness after sinus lift in cases of thickened sinus membrane.

METHODSSixteen patients without maxillary sinusitis and with 5-8 mm residual alveolar bone heights were included in this study. The sinus membrane thickeness of these patients were more than 2 mm. All patients received sinus lift surgery and dental implants insertion. The changes of sinus membrane was evaluated by cone-beam CT (CBCT) pre-surgery and 6 months after sinus lift surgery, and the short term success rate of dental implants was also evaluated.

RESULTSA total of 18 implants from 16 subjects were inserted. The thickness of membrane was decreased in 14 cases after sinus lift and increased in 2 cases. All the orifice of maxillary sinus was unobstructed before surgery, one case was obstructed after surgery without inflammation. All the dental implants succeeded.

CONCLUSIONSSinus augmentation with thickened sinus membrane is not contraindication of sinus lift.

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Contraindications ; Dental Implantation, Endosseous ; Dental Implants ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; pathology ; surgery ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; surgery ; Mucous Membrane ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sinus Floor Augmentation