Course Details

The maxillary and mandibular posterior edentulous region can present a challenging condition for dental implant placement. Whether it be the pneumatization of the sinus cavity in the maxillary posterior region or thin bone patterns due to resorption in both the maxillary and mandibular regions, the amount of bone necessary for an implant-supported restoration may be compromised.

These problems can be overcome by sinus grafting procedures, guided bone regeneration (GBR) techniques/materials, and/or ridge expansion/splitting in horizontally comprised situations.

For the posterior maxilla, dental implant reconstruction for advanced alveolar ridge atrophy has become possible through bone grafting procedures involving the maxillary sinus. This procedure involves augmentation of either the internal or the external aspects of the sinus, or both. With the advent of new surgical techniques and materials, sinus augmentation has become a predictable and often minimally invasive treatment. The sinus portion of this presentation will focus on the classic lateral approach as well as the more modern internal or crestal approach using hydraulic, neurosurgical and piezoelectric technologies.

For narrow ridges in both the maxilla and mandible, bone augmentation has become quite predictable. The advent of ultrasonic tools have allowed for favorable healing in otherwise complex situations. Piezo-assisted ridge expansion has become an advantageous solution as patients can receive augmentation as well as implant placement simultaneously. Using new tools such as expansion burs, ridge splitting, and bone expanders, this procedures can become a critical addition to the regenerative surgical practice.

The purpose of this course is to give the theoretical background for these procedures as well as the step-by-step surgical guidelines using state-of-the-art grafting materials, instrumentation and utilization of growth factors.

All procedures will be shown on video and practical hands-on training will be performed on fresh frozen specimens.

Course Objectives:

• Diagnosis and treatment plan for the rehabilitation of the posterior maxilla

• Evaluate the surgical approaches and techniques for sinus lifts and ridge expansion

• Comprehend different grafting materials for guided bone regeneration

• Comprehend the use of advanced surgical instrumentation such as Piezosurgery &  Crestal/Lateral Sinus Drill kits for sinus access.

• Step-by-step techniques to overcome these challenges utilizing piezoelectric therapy for ridge expansion

• Armamentarium needed to perform these procedures, surgical kits for bone and sinus as well as expansion drills

• Learn how to utilize autologous growth factors