SINUS LIFT: MAXILLARY SINUS LIFT TECHNIQUES

Abstract

The presence of dental elements is a fundamental factor for the maintenance of the alveolar ridge. Once lost, the alveolar process undergoes a process of intense remodeling. This occurs because the alveolar process has the function of supporting the teeth and, once this function is lost, its tendency is to gradually reabsorb. Negative breathing pressure and the use of inadequate prostheses can aggravate the process. For a long time, posterior bone pneumatization of the maxilla was a complex limitation for rehabilitations with implants that were often installed at an angle or distant, in order to avoid contact with the maxillary sinus. Surgery to lift the floor of the maxillary sinus was conceived by Tatum in 1976 and obviously the technique has undergone modifications and adaptations. Boyne et al., in 1980, incorporated options with particulate bone grafting. The last publication by Tatum in 1986 presented the description of the maxillary sinus floor elevation technique that is still used today. Concomitantly, other surgical techniques emerged with the aim of performing a less traumatic surgery or incorporating other materials. The maxillary floor elevation technique is defined as a surgical procedure performed to increase the height and density of the posterior maxillary segment by means of a bone graft in the maxillary sinus, without compromising the distance between the arches. Rehabilitating patients through implants may be impossible without the use of materials and techniques capable of partially or completely replacing the bone deficiency, and supporting, in function, the dental implants. Currently, there are several materials that can be used alone or together with others for lifting the floor of the maxillary sinus, which may leave a dentist in doubt as to which material to choose for each case. The present work aimed to carry out a literature review about the techniques for lifting the floor of the maxillary sinus.