Alternatives to the sinus lift: short implants

Abstract

The surgical management of posterior maxilla is a challenge to the professional. Currently the sinus lift is probably the first treatment choice on the rehabilitation with implants of the atrophic posterior maxilla. The sinus lift has demonstrated to be a reliable technique in the management of these patients. Unfortunately, this technique can be accompanied by higher economic costs, morbidity and risk of sinusitis. However, the use of short implants (<10 mm) traditionally has been associated with lower survival rates than long implants, but the use of short dental implants with a sintered porous surface is a simple and reliable alternative when there is a contraindication to sinus lift. We present our experience with very short implants. Over the past 18 months a total of 37 implants have been installed to restore the posterior maxilla. All implants were 5 mm in diameter and had a length of 5 to 7 mm. In our series the Summers’ technique was not used in any case. In 3 cases the submerged technique was used. The period of integration has been between 3 and 6 months. Immediate loading was not realised in any case. Of the whole of installed implants, 29 were loaded and 8 are in process of osseointegration. Only one case of a 5 × 5 mm implant had not integrated during the prosthetic phase. A detailed explanation of the surgical technique of these implants is also exposed (in this case Endopore, Dental Implant System, Innova Corporation, Toronto, Canada) as well as an updated review of its use.