Abstract
In recent years, the application of the sinus lift procedure has increased, in which apexes of dental implants are protruded into the bone cavity, the maxillary sinus. A prompt method to prove the efficacy of the sinus lift procedure has been established. In particular, histopathological reaction has not been fully studied. To develop a model of the sinus lift procedure experimentally, the ideal experimental animal would be primates with large maxillary sinuses. Primates are, however, difficult to obtain and breed. Other species such as rabbits have too small maxillary sinuses to install dental implants clinically.
Therefore, dogs with relatively large frontal sinuses were used in this study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reaction of bone tissue surrounding dental implants placed in sinuses without original bone. At 1, 2, 4, and 13 weeks after implantation, histopathological specimens were obtained.
As a result, from 2 weeks after implantation, bone formation was observed, and at 13 weeks, most tissues were replaced with trabecular bone which was rich in fat tissue. The frontal sinuses in dogs showed normal healing process without infection after the surgical invasion such as opening the sinus, resection of the mucous membranes and placement of dental implants.
These results suggested that the application of dental implants to the frontal sinuses in dogs can be an effective experimental model for the sinus lift procedure.
