A Modified Transalveolar Sinus Floor Elevation Approach With a Bilaterally Enlarged Osteotomy

Sinus floor elevation is the most commonly used method for vertical bone augmentation in the maxillary posterior area. This clinical report describes a modified transalveolar approach to elevate the Schneiderian membrane when placing implants on a severely resorbed maxillary posterior ridge with a buccal-palatal width of more than 8.0 mm. In this approach, the osteotomy prepared on the crestal is bilaterally enlarged to 8.0–10.0 mm. The enlarged osteotomies provide better access, allowing instruments to be in direct contact with the bone of the sinus floor and thus elevate the Schneiderian membrane with a reduced risk of perforation.