Sinus Floor Augmentation Using Straumann® BoneCeramic™ and Bio-Oss® in a Split Mouth Design and Later Placement of Implants: A 5-Year Report from a Longitudinal Study

Background: Straumann (R) BoneCeramic (TM) is a synthetic biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) aimed for sinus floor augmentation. Long-term follow-up of implants placed in BCP after sinus augmentation is still missing. Purpose: The primary aim of the study was to compare survival rates and marginal bone loss of Straumann SLActive implants placed in either BCP (test) or Bio-Oss (R) (DBB) (control) after sinus floor augmentation. The secondary aim was to calculate graft sinus height at different time points. Materials and Methods: Bilateral sinus floor augmentation was performed in a split mouth model. Eleven patients (mean age 67 years) received 100% BCP on one side and 100% DBB on the contralateral side. After 8 months of graft healing, 62 Straumann SLActive implants were placed. After 5 years of functional loading (6 years after augmentation) of implants, marginal bone levels and grafted sinus height were measured, and implant survival and success rates were calculated. Results: After 5 years of loading, all prosthetic constructions were in function although two implants were lost in each grafting material. The overall implant survival rate was 93.5% (91.7% for BCP, 91.3% for DBB, and 100% for residual bone). The success rates were 83.3% and 91.3% for BCP and DBB, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in mean marginal bone level after 5 years between BCP (1.4 +/- 1.2 mm) and DBB (1.0 +/- 0.7 mm). Graft height reduction (GHR) after 6 years was limited to 6.6% for BCP and 5.8% for DBB. Conclusion: In this limited RCT study, the choice of biomaterial used for sinus floor augmentation did not seem to have any impact on survival rates and marginal bone level of the placed implants after 5 years of functional loading and GHR was minimal.