RESUMO
AIM: The aim of this study was to assess retrospectively at 5 years the clinical outcome of bone regeneration in patients who underwent maxillary sinus lift with different equine-derived, enzyme-deantigenated equine bone grafts, and simultaneous placement of acid-etched surface implants. METHODS: Eighteen patients (10 males and 8 females, age between 55 and 61 years) were considered. They were divided into 2 groups according to the type of bone graft used: a combination of an equine flexible heterologous spongy bone layer (Osteoplant Flex, Bioteck) and equine heterologous cortical and spongy granules (Bio-Gen Mix, Bioteck), group A, or a block of equine heterologous spongy bone (Bio-Gen Block, Bioteck), group B. Surface-treated implants (''TRE'' type, Biotec) were placed simultaneously to sinus augmentations and usual clinical and radiological tests were performed at 6 months and every year up to 5 years after surgery. RESULTS: At 5 years, 45 out of 49 total implants placed (91.8%) were successful according to the Albrektsson and Zarb criteria. The loss of the 4 failed implants was observed in 2 patients of group B during the first days following surgery. CONCLUSION: These results show that the heterologous bone grafts supported properly the bone regeneration inside the sinuses, and that the type of implants used allowed to achieve a satisfying rate of success according to the current standards in implantology.
