Comparative radiologic analyses of newly formed bone after maxillary sinus augmentation with and without bone grafting.

PURPOSE: The present study examined the formation and density of new bone after sinus membrane elevation, with and without bone grafting, and evaluated the bone formation at the apices of the implants with these 2 different maxillary sinus floor elevation techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective randomized controlled study design, patients requiring reconstruction of their atrophic maxilla were included and divided randomly into grafted and nongrafted groups. Implants were inserted in each group by way of sinus membrane elevation. The formation and density of new bone were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography, performed preoperatively and 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 24 implants were placed in 14 patients, with all implants maintaining stability during 6 months of follow-up. New bone formation was determined in both groups using radiography. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in terms of new bone density preoperatively nor at 1 week or 3 months postoperatively. However, the density of bone in the nongrafted group was higher than that in the grafted group 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the simple elevation of the sinus membrane without bone grafting material can lead to bone formation around implants and that the newly formed bone in the nongrafted group was denser than that in the grafted group.