Variables Influencing Bone Formation After Transcrestal Sinus Floor Elevation: Radiographic and Tomographic Evaluations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of initial implant protrusion within the subantral space on hard tissue gain for implants placed simultaneously with transcrestal sinus floor elevation (TSFE) with a biomaterial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 implants were placed after TSFE in 44 patients using either a human demineralized bone matrix or a deproteinized bone mineral matrix. Intraoral radiographs were obtained before and immediately after surgery. CBCT scans were obtained at the last follow-up (mean: 6.6 years). RESULTS: The initial bone crest height was 4.6 +/- 1.4 mm, and the initial protrusion of the implants above the sinus floor was 3.5 +/- 1.4 mm. At the follow-up assessments, the hard tissue mean gain was 2.5 +/- 1.5 mm, resulting in a mean residual protrusion of 1.1 +/- 1.3 mm. Only 10 implants did not protrude above the apical level of hard tissue. Positive correlations were found between hard tissue gain and initial protrusion (r = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.72; P = .0001), between the initial and final protrusions (r = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.60; P = .007), and between the follow-up period and final protrusion (r = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.58; P = .012). CONCLUSIONS: The higher the initial protrusion was, the higher were the hard tissue gain and the final protrusion of the implant above the apical level of the hard tissue.