Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effect of simple osteotome sinus floor elevation without bone grafting in the posterior maxilla area with less bone height. METHODS: Twenty eight cases with posterior maxillary bone deficiency were included.Their residual alveolar bone height (RBH) was less than 7 mm. 40 ITI implants were implanted. Among them, 6 implants were implanted in the sites with RBH less than 4 mm (group 1), 34 were implanted in the sites with RBH between 4 to 7 mm (group 2).16 implants were inserted with bone graft, while 24 implants were inserted without bone graft. 6~12 months after operation, the alveolar bone height were measured and recorded. SPSS19.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: All 40 implants in 28 patients had good initial stability and good osseointegration, the success rate was 100%. RBH in group 1 and group 2 was (3.44±0.57) mm, (5.50±1.00) mm, respectively; postoperative bone increase was (7.91+1.06) mm in group 1, (8.77+1.15) mm in group 2, respectively (P>0.05).Preoperative RBHin bone graft group was (5.37±1.24) mm and (5.07±1.19) mm in patients without bone graft. Postoperative bone increase was (8.47±1.18) mm in bone graft group, and (8.89±1.13)mm in patients without bone graft, responsively (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary sinus elevation can be successfully performed in patients with RBH<4 mm, and the effect is similar to that of conventional maxillary sinus lifting. Simple osteotome sinus floor elevation without bone grafting, which is with less trauma and lower cost, is effective in improving bone height in posterior maxillary region.

Key words: Maxillary sinus elevation, Implant, Alveolar height