Intrasinusal locking technique: a novel use of the ring block technique at sinus perforations for simultaneous implant placement

Ten patients who underwent sinus lift surgery with simultaneous implant placement using the intrasinusal locking technique were evaluated retrospectively. All patients were scheduled for sinus floor elevation procedures with simultaneous implant placement. Schneiderian membrane perforation occurred during the lifting procedure, and conventional methods failed to repair the perforation. Therefore, an autogenous bone ring was placed at the base of the maxillary sinus and was locked to the alveolar crest with a dental implant. Marginal resorption around the dental implants was measured on panoramic radiographs. Prosthetic rehabilitation was performed at 6 months postoperative. The overall survival rate of the implants over a mean follow-up of 24.3 months was 90%. One case failed due to resorption of the alveolar crest around the implant as a result of infection; the implant and the adjacent ring were removed at 1 month postoperative. At the time of writing, the nine implants placed using the documented technique continue to function well, without any signs of peri-implant disease. The proposed approach allows for simultaneous dental implant placement in the extremely atrophic maxilla, even if there is extensive perforation of the Schneiderian membrane.