Implant-Guided Tenting of the Schneiderian Membrane by the Osteotome Technique without Grafting Materials: Literature Review

Rehabilitation of the atrophied edentulous maxilla is complicated. Often the residual bone height is insufficient for implant placement due to crestal bone resorption and pneumatization of the sinus.The meticulous management of the available residual bone, the atraumatic sinus lifting procedure, and the proper selection of the implants are the keys to successful dental implantation in resorbed alveolar alveolar bone. Today, one of the most common ways to compensate for inadequate vertical bone height is to elevate the sinus floor by tenting of the schneiderian membrane by the implant which is guided by itself eliminating the need for bone graft. The Osteotome sinus-floor elevation in conjunction with implant placement is also possible in severely resorbed alveolar bone. Extensive and traumatic conventional lateral approach for the sinus lifting and the grafting procedures can be avoided even in the highly resorbed alveolar bone by using Osteotome technique. This paper consists of a review of the literature available on sinus membrane elevation with simultaneous implant placement without the use of grafting materials. This review shows that grafting materials are not necessary to achieve a high implant survival rate. Some advantages with the less invasive non-grafting method are a decreased patient discomfort and a shorter