Background: After an extensive review of the literature regarding maxillary sinus lift procedures, the authors report the results of a retrospective study carried out by the Institute of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Second University of Naples.
Methods: A group of 9 patients aged between 18 and 50 years old, including two females, were enrolled in this study. At the preliminary evaluation, the sites to be analysed showed a bone height between the residual crest and the sinusal membrane not exceeding 8 mm. All patients responded positively to specific preimplantation requisites. Commercially pure titanium fixtures were used as well as demineralised freeze-dried bovine bone and autologous bone graft from the retromolar region.
Results: All patients were followed for at least 15 months and no clinical check-ups were missed during that time. No implant was lost and no cases of spire exposure were reported. Postoperative vertical bone resorption was within normal values.
Conclusions: Summers technique and its variations with bone grafts of various kinds represents a valid aid for edentulous maxillary rehabilitation with scarce osseous resources in the postero-superior sectors. It offers a number of advantages compared to the traditional technique using an invasive lateral approach and is more acceptable to patients. However, in spite of this positive experience, the follow-up in the literature still appears to be too short. The authors, are therefore cautious in expressing their absolute preference for Summers technique and stress the need to wait for further long-term results.