Rehabilitation of the Edentulous Posterior Maxilla After Sinus Floor Elevation Using Deproteinized Bovine Bone: A 9-Year Clinical Study

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term survival rate of rough-surfaced implants placed in maxillary sinuses augmented with deproteinized bovine bone (Bio-Oss; Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland). Materials and Methods: Thirteen maxillary sinuses were augmented in 10 patients with Bio-Oss. After an average healing period of 13.8 months, 24 implants were placed. In 4 cases, biopsies were performed and submitted to histological analysis. Clinical and radiographic evaluation was performed 9 years after implant placement and minimum 8 years after functional loading. Results: At the 9-year control, all the 24 implants were still functional. Thus, the implant survival rate was 100%. Conclusions: Bio-Oss is an acceptable substitute to the autogenous bone, and it can be used as a unique material for sinus floor elevation. Rough-surfaced implants placed in 100% Bio-Oss grafts showed a high survival rate (100%) on the long term. Larger clinical trials are necessary to confirm our results. (Implant Dent 2012;21:422-426)