The purpose of the study was to test a clinically relevant non-inferiority of Straumann BoneCeramic treatment compared to Bio-Oss treatment 180 to 240 days after sinus grafting procedure.

This is a prospective, controlled, randomised, multicenter study. The total study duration for each patient should be three years.

In total 13 visits per patient are scheduled in this study.

The study device Straumann Bone Ceramic is CE-marked.

Height centers in Italy will participate.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and females were at least 18 years of age and not more than 70 years old
• A dental implant procedure was foreseen in the maxilla region corresponding to maxillary sinus
• Patients presented a bone defect in the sinus area, which needed a sinus floor elevation to place one or more dental implants
• The patients were unilaterally or bilaterally edentulous in the maxillary region corresponding to the sinuses
• Residual alveolar crest height of the lateral-posterior segments of the edentulous maxilla below the floor of the maxillary sinus was less than 8 mm and at least 3 mm, measured by CT scans. Furthermore, residual alveolar crest width should be at least in average 6 mm measured by the CT scans
• Patients were committed to the study
• Patients were healthy at time of surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical conditions requiring prolonged use of steroids
• Standard blood test performed by the medical practitioner of the patient showing: leukocyte dysfunction and deficiencies
• Haemophilia, bleeding disorders or cumarin therapy
• History of neoplastic disease requiring the use of chemotherapy
• History of radiation therapy to the head and neck
• Patients with history of renal failure or chronic renal diseases
• Patients affected by chronic liver diseases
• Patients with severe or uncontrolled metabolic bone disorders
• Uncontrolled endocrine disorders (including diabetes)
• Current pregnancy at the time of recruitment
• Physical handicaps that would interfere with the ability to perform adequate oral hygiene
• Use of any investigational drug or device within the 90 days period immediately prior to implant surgery on study day 0
• Alcoholism or chronically drug abuse causing systemic compromisation
• Immunocompromised patients including patients infected with HIV
• Patients who smoke more than 10 cigarettes per day or cigar equivalents, or who chew tobacco
• Conditions or circumstances, in the opinion of the investigator, which could represent a general contra-indication for surgical procedure or would prevent completion of study participation or interfere with analysis of study results, such as history of non-compliance, or unreliability

Local exclusion criteria

• Local inflammation, including untreated periodontitis to residual dentition
• Mucosal diseases such as erosive lichen planus
• History of local radiation therapy
• Presence of oral lesions (such as ulceration, malignancy)
• Severe bruxing or clenching habits
• Persistent intraoral infection
• Patients with inadequate oral hygiene or unmotivated for adequate home care
• Unhealed extraction sites in the upper premolar or molar area
• Last tooth extraction performed less than 3 months before surgery 1
• Previous GBR (guided bone regeneration) or dental implant treatment in the lateral-posterior segments of the upper maxilla (foreseen implant site)
• Patients presenting clinical and radiological signs and symptoms of maxillary sinus disease
• Patients presenting with residual alveolar crest height of the lateral-posterior segments of the edentulous maxilla below the floor of the maxillary sinus less than 3 mm and residual alveolar crest width less than 6 mm (measured by the CT scans)
• The reduction in residual bone height was determined by sinus pneumatization and not by vertical resorption of the residual alveolar crest with increased interarch distance. Patients with increased interarch distance were excluded from the study
• Existing teeth in the residual dentition with untreated endodontic or cariologic problems
• Horizontal or vertical augmentation to correct the vertical inter-arch distance or to correct horizontal defects