Osteotome technique: literature review

OBJECTIVE: This focus literature review aimed to identify, in a clear and systematic way, the various factors (indications, influence of biomaterials and survival rates of the implants) that a clinician must take into account when addressing the maxillary sinus using trasncrestal maxillary sinus floor elevation techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The papers to include in this focus review were obtained via automatic search and screening of articles published in scientific journals with peer review and indexed in the well-known sources of scientific information e.g. PubMed, ScienceDirect, LILACS, Web of Science, Scielo, Cochrane Library. RESULTS: After screening, 25 papers were included in this focus review. Overall literature results highlight that the osteotome technique is a valid alternative when the remaining bone is >5mm. Also, the most frequent complication is the perforation of the Schneider membrane. Furthermore, different grafts, or no graft at all, can be used with different results, depending on the individual case. Summarizing the results, the average sinus floor elevation was 3,8 mm with variation between 2.6±1.2mm and 5,65±1.93mm. Analyzing the implant survival rate with 5 years follow-up periods, the overall survival rate was 94,3% (varying between 91,9% and 98,3%). The 10 years’ follow-up studies report an average survival rate of 97% (varying between 94% and 100%). CONCLUSIONS: The consensual minimum residual bone height for the indication of osteotome technique is >5mm. Osteotome techniques are predictable, well documented and present a high success rate when correctly carried on.