Objectives The present randomized controlled clinical study aimed to investigate if, in lateral maxillary sinus augmentation, the repositioned bony wall or the application of a collagen membrane results in more preferable new hard tissue formation. Materials and methods Forty patients were divided into two study groups. Both groups received a xenogeneic bone substitute material (BSM) during lateral sinus augmentation. In the bony wall group (BW), following piezosurgery, the retrieved bony wall was repositioned. In the collagen membrane group (CM), following rotary instrument preparation, collagen membrane coverage was applied. After 6 months, biopsies were taken to histologically analyze the percentage of BSM, connective tissue (CT), and newly formed bone (NFB) following both approaches. Results Forty implants were placed and 29 harvested biopsies could be evaluated. Duration of surgery, membrane perforations, and VAS were detected. Histomorphometrical analysis revealed comparable amounts of all analyzed parameters in both groups in descending order: CT (BW: 39.2 +/- 9%, CM: 37,9 +/- 8.5%) > BSM (BW: 32.9 +/- 6.3%, CM: 31.8 +/- 8.8%) > NB (BW: 27.8 +/- 11.2%, CM: 30.3 +/- 4.5%). Conclusions The results of the present study show that the closure of the access window by means of the retrieved bony wall or a native collagen membrane led to comparable bone augmentation results.
