Sinus floor elevation via the maxillary premolar extraction socket with immediate implant placement: a case series.

BACKGROUND When immediate implant placement is considered for teeth with close proximity to the sinus floor, apical extension of the osteotomy is significantly limited, and often a staged approach is used. Implant placement into fresh extraction sockets and sinus floor manipulation using bone-added osteotome sinus floor elevation with implant placement are techniques most often used independently or sequentially. Very few reports have described the combined use of immediate implant placement in fresh sockets and the bone-added osteotome sinus floor elevation technique. METHODS We present five cases in which a maxillary premolar was extracted and an implant placed into the extraction site with simultaneous abfracture of the sinus floor using osteotomes. All teeth were extracted atraumatically, and sockets carefully debrided and checked for integrity of the walls. After ideal osteotomy preparation, particulate bone graft was placed in the osteotomy and appropriately sized osteotomes were used for sinus floor elevation. After sufficient elevation, implant placement was completed and particulate bone was packed in the bone-implant gap when indicated. RESULTS All implants were restored after a minimum healing period of 6 months. At the time of final restoration, bone was seen surrounding the implants from the apical portion to the most coronal thread. All five implants healed without complications and were in function for periods ranging from 6 to 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Immediate implant placement with simultaneous osteotome sinus floor elevation is an advantageous combination of two successfully used techniques. This combined approach can significantly reduce the treatment time for implant therapy in teeth with close sinus proximity and provide the operator with the ability to place implants of desired length.