Five years of clinical and radiographical evaluation of implant survival and dimensional stability of maxillary sinus augmentation procedures performed with platelet-rich plasma

Purpose: Aim of the present study was to present the results of a retrospective analysis of maxillary sinus augmentation procedures performed with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with a mean follow-up of about 5 years. The analysis was focused on implant survival rates and on the dimensional stability of the subantral cavity filling. Materials and Methods: Between 2000 and 2006, 28 patients were recruited for a maxillary sinus augmentation procedure performed with PRP. Two patients did not answer to the calling for the examination at distance, so they were excluded from the sample. The study involved 26 patients, for a total amount of 33 sinus augmentations, with an average follow-up of 65 months. In 26 procedures the grafting material used was a mixture of autologous bone taken from the oral cavity, deproteinized bovine bone Bio-Oss® in a relationship of 1:3 and PRP, while in seven cases, the combination of Bio-Oss and PRP. The dimensional stability of grafting material was investigated through X-ray measurements carried out during X-ray postexaminations. Results: After a mean follow-up time of about 5 years, the implant survival rate registered was 95.9%, while the radiographical variables used to assess the dimensional stability of grafts, showed a mean decrease respectively of 9.38% and 14.61%. Discussion: Very good long-term results were achieved using autologous bone+Bio-Oss+PRP and Bio-Oss+PRP as filling materials in the maxillary sinus augmentation. Dimensional stability of cavity filling seems to represent a very important factor for implant procedures success. It is difficult to estimate the influence of PRP on a long-term basis. Conclusion: The implant survival rate obtained in this study was similar to the expected rate on the areas not subject to bone graft. The method applied showed to be reliable for bone regeneration in subantral cavities, showing a very good dimensional stability and a slight reabsorption over the years.