Subantral filling by deantigenated heterologous bone and immediate fixture placement.

AIM: A successful implant therapy depends on sufficient quantity of available bone. Latero-posterior maxillary area often represents a hardly useful zone for routine implant therapy in long time edentulous patients. Standard procedures of maxillary sinus lifting are the goals of implant-prosthetic rehabilitation. Among different grafting materials used in this kind of procedures, the deantigenated heterologous bone reliability has been tested. METHODS: In a clinical case of maxillary bone atrophy (Misch classification, SA3) a deantigenated heterologous bone grafting and immediate fixture placement has been performed; before prosthetic finalization a biopsy in the grafting site has been carried out in order to obtain an histological evaluation of the graft integration. RESULTS: The histological analysis and X-ray at 1 year follow-up show the formation of osteoid tissue integrated with the surrounding bone tissue, reaching bone maturity by calcification. In spite of a longer time for grafting integration, the advantages of a single-time surgery and the reduction of surgical timing are stressed. CONCLUSIONS: X-rays and histological results lead authors to consider the tested heterologous bone as a valid alternative to autologous bone, especially in those patients where it is preferable to avoid a second surgical site in order to take an inlay graft.