Mini-lateral windows for minimally invasive maxillary sinus augmentation: case series of a new technique.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article was to introduce a new technique for minimally invasive lateral window sinus augmentation, developed to maximize the amount of residual lateral wall after the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen consecutive patients requiring maxillary sinus augmentation by a lateral approach and delayed implant placement were treated using standardized mini-lateral windows. Before the procedure, the remaining height of alveolar bone was determined; 6 months after the procedure, the augmented height and augmented width were measured. The extent of the antrostomy was calculated using a gauge and compared with a conventional window size. RESULTS: A total of 15 maxillary sinus augmentation procedures were performed in 14 patients using this technique. Every patient received the planned implant treatment 6 months after the sinus augmentation procedure. The average residual bone height was 2.1 +/- 1.1 mm, the average augmented height was 13.4 +/- 3.4 mm, and the average augmented width was 19.0 +/- 5.5 mm. The average total area of the antrostomy was calculated to be 59.2 +/- 12.8 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this case series study suggest that this technique allows for the achievement of a similar result as with conventional size windows, but with a significantly smaller total window area.