Clinical Investigation to Assess the Safety and Feasibility of the Crestal, Minimal-invasive Sinus Floor Augmentation With the Pressure Chamber Drill (DKK) and the Sinus Vibration Pump (SVP)

The success of dental implants is based on a variety of factors including; surgical technique, health of the patient, operator skill and, to a significant part, sufficient bone for the placement and integration of dental implants. To that end, the replacement of the maxillary posterior teeth have presented a considerable challenge because, after the loss of maxillary posterior teeth the quality and quantity of the remaining supporting bone may be insufficient to support implants properly or reliably. To overcome the deficiency of insufficient vertical bone mass of the maxilla, several surgical techniques have been developed to increase available bone mass for the replacement of dental implants by bone augmentation. The conventional procedure for a sinus lift (Caldwell-Luc procedure) requires preparation of a mucoperiosteal flap in the buccal molar region and to cut an oval window in the thus exposed bone, without damage to the subjacent maxillary sinus membrane. The procedure is very invasive and subjects the patient to great stress as a result of substantial swelling and discoloration of up to 10 days, and possibly of pain. This surgical procedure is oftentimes referred to as "open" or "classic" sinus lift. This technique is fraught with many risks and complications because of the limitations of healing potential in the maxillary sinus. In spite of these risks many patients undergo this procedure because of the strong desire to replace missing maxillary teeth with dental implants. An alternative approach to the maxillary sinus from the inferior approach of the alveolar ridge utilizing solid cylindrical osteotomes was described by Dr. Summers (crestal sinus lift). It is a more conservative approach and is less invasive. It was developed to eliminate the risks described above.While this technique is safer, an overzealous use of an osteotome during the placement of the regenerative material can result in the perforation of the subantral membrane with disadvantages d