The assessment of the effect of the size of lateral-antrostomy in graftless balloon elevation of the maxillary sinus membrane with simultaneous implant placement (a randomized controlled clinical trial)

Background The overlying maxillary sinus frequently restrains the height of the posterior maxillary bones. Purpose Evaluating the effect of downsizing the antrostomy side-window on the stability of the installed implants and vertical bone gain, after employing a graftless antral membrane balloon elevation (AMBE). Materials and methods The study is a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on 20 patients with 30 deficient maxillary alveolar ridges underwent graftless (AMBE) after being allocated into a (5 mm) entry antrostomy group (the test group) and a (10 mm) entry antrostomy group (the control group) implementing a radiographic linear bone height and implant stability quotations (ISQ) comparison among both groups immediately after the placement of 38 Implants and 6 months after. Results Radiographic bone gain of the test group (5.55 +/- 0.93 mm) was significantly higher than the control group (2.86 +/- 0.60 mm) (p <0.001). There was no significant difference in primary stability between the test (65 +/- 5.32) and control groups (62.67 +/- 4.46) (p = 0.202); while the test group (73.43 +/- 4.39) showed significantly higher secondary stability than the control group (64.83 +/- 6.05) (p <0.001). ISQ values recorded at 6 months were significantly higher than those recorded at insertion in the test group (p <0.001), while they were insignificant in the control group (p = 0.148). Conclusion Undersizing the antrostomy window deemed beneficial concerning the vertical bone gain and the simultaneously placed root form dental implants' secondary stability.