A comparative study of bilateral maxillary sinus lift: autogenous bone vs alloplastic grafts

Aim: Two different graft materials, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and autogenous bone, were used in the same patient. The aim of this study was to determine whether donor site morbidity could be avoided by using pure-phase β-TCP. Material and Methods: Bilateral sinus grafting was performed on 20 selected patients; β-TCP was used on the experimental side. Autogenous bone was used on the control side. In each patient, one side was randomly designated the experimental side. Eighty bone biopsy specimens were taken at the time of implant placement. Results: Histologically and histomorphometrically, there was no significant difference between the experimental and control grafts in terms of the quantity and rate of ossification. For each histologic sample, the total surface area, the surface area that consisted of bone, and the surface area that consisted of graft material were measured in mm2, and bone and graft material were analyzed as percentages of the total. The mean percentage bone areas were 36.47% ± 6.9% and 38.34% ± 7.4%, respectively; the difference was not significant (P=.25). The autogenous bone was initially less visible than the β-TCP, but new bone formation was clearly observed for both materials. The rate of graft resorption was lower on the experimental side than on the control side. The mean graft area percentages were 13.95% ± 5.38% and 8.47% ± 3.17%, and the difference was highly significant (P<.001). Conclusion: Comparisons with other studies reveal that β-TCP is a satisfactory graft material for maxillary sinus floor augmentation, even without autogeneous bone.