Treatment of Severe Maxillary Atrophy for Dental Implants in the Complete Edentulous Patient

Former Chairman and Program Director, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program, Cook County Hospital, Chicago Ill, Park Ridge Center Oral, Maxillofacial and Dental Implant Surgery, 350 S. Northwest Hwy, Ste 118, Park Ridge, IL 60068, USA

*Corresponding author: John M Sisto, D.D.S. FACD, Former Chairman and Program Director, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program, Cook County Hospital, Chicago Ill, Park Ridge Center Oral, Maxillofacial and Dental Implant Surgery, 350 S. Northwest Hwy, Ste 118, Park Ridge, IL 60068, Phone: 847 696 4848, E-mails: [email protected]

Received Date: February 19, 2026

Published Date: March 18, 2026

Citation: Sisto JM. (2026). Treatment of Severe Maxillary Atrophy for Dental Implants in the Complete Edentulous Patient. Mathews J Dentistry. 10(1):63.

Copyrights: Sisto JM. © (2026).

ABSTRACT

The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate treatment outcomes for patients that underwent bilateral sinus lifts and vertical ridge augmentation of the maxilla prior to dental implant placement for patients who presented with a complete edentulous maxilla and severe maxillary atrophy, Cawood and Howell classification V or VI. Nine patients were treated by bone augmentation via bilateral sinus lifts and vertical ridge augmentation with a custom made titanium crib. Post-operative follow-up consisted of visual exam for evidence of infection (i.e. redness, swelling, and purulence), periapical radiographs and conebeam CT scans to evaluate bone loss and implant status. Cases studied were from 1998 -2018. Four patients had bone harvested from the anterior iliac crest and five had a tissue engineering triad approach with recombinant bone morphogenetic protein (rBMP). There were no graft failures or major complications. Healing times of the graft prior to implant placement was 5-9 months. A total of 68 implants were placed. Two patients had ten implants, three had 8 implants and four had 6 implants. The follow-up was 2 -12 years. Four implant failures occurred with three in one patient. The cumulative success rate was 94%. Bone heights remained stable with less than 1mm of bone loss on 65% of the implants. Five cases were restored with a fixed prosthesis and four with a removable. All remained in function at follow-up. Bilateral sinus lifts with vertical ridge augmentation reveals a high success rate for grafts and implants with long term stability of the implants and function of the prosthesis. This provides another viable solution for the treatment of severe maxillary atrophy in patients interested in rehabilitation to a functional occlusion through dental implant placement.

Keywords: Sinus Lift, Autogenous Bone Graft, Titanium Crib, Horizontal and Vertical Ridge Augmentation, Iliac Crest Bone Graft, Tissue Engineering.