Introduction:

The aim of this study was to report the clinical findings of treatment of posterior maxilla with dental implants inserted by transalveolar sinus elevation in geriatric patients.

Patients and Methods:

24 geriatric patients (15 males and 9 females) with maxillary tooth loss were treated with 28 different implants placed by transalveolar sinus elevation for rehabilitation of posterior maxilla. Implants were loaded after a healing free-loading period of 6 months.

Results:

Clinical findings indicate a survival and success rate of implants of 96.4%. In one patient of 24 treated patients (4.2%), one implant was lost (3.6%). The mean residual height was 6.38 mm±1.10 mm (range: 5-10 mm). The mean elevation height was 4.40 mm±1.10 mm (range: 2-7 mm). 67.8% of implants were inserted in molar and 32.2% in premolar localization. Bone substitutes were used in 97.8% of implants. Twenty patients (83.3%) were restored with single crowns, 3 patients with fixed bridges (12.5%) and one patient (4.2%) with overdenture. The mean follow-up period of treated patients was 64.2 ±8.6 months (range: 50-82 months).

Conclusions:

This study indicates that treatment with dental implants placed by transalveolar sinus elevation in geriatric patients constitute an implant treatment with a high success rate.

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