PURPOSE:To evaluate the efficacy of associating techniques of bone grafting in the maxillary sinus with the use of a prototyped surgical guide for planning and positioning dental implants in total edentulous maxillae, rehabilitated after six months.
METHODS:Eight patients consecutives with totally edentulous maxilla presenting few remaining bone in the posterior alveolar ridge, associated with pneumatization of the maxillary sinus were selected. Twenty eight Brånemark RP 10mm implants were installed in 14 maxillary sinuses. The surgical planning for the implant installation was performed with the DentalSlice software by means of a computerized tomography. The obtained images were used for building a surgical guide that, placed over the maxilla, showed the exact position for the implants installation (prototyped surgical guide). The portion of the implants that went into the maxillary sinus was covered by an autogenous bone graft.
RESULTS:The patients were re-evaluated six months after the surgery and a 100% success rate was achieved. All of the implants presented no mobility or symptoms, permitting an oral rehabilitation with total fixed screw-retained prosthesis over the implants.
CONCLUSION:The technique of associating implants and bone graft in the maxillary sinus aided by a prototyped guide planned on DentalSlice has showed itself efficient for positioning implants and for quantifying and locating the bone graft.