Is implant placement performed concomitantly with transcrestal sinus floor elevation more time consuming and traumatic than implant placement entirely in native bone?

Aim: To compare the outcomes of implant placement per- formed concomitantly with transcrestal sinus floor elevation (tSFE) or entirely in native bone. Material and Methods: Patients candidate to implant place- ment concomitantly with tSFE (tSFE group, n = 14) or entirely in native bone (N group, n = 17) at single sites were consecu- tively included. In tSFE group, sinus lift was performed accord- ing to Trombelli (2009). Patient-centered outcomes were assessed using visual rating scales (level of discomfort, VRSdis- comfort; willingness to undergo the same surgery, VRSwillingness) and 100- mm visual analogue scales (postoperative pain, VASpain). The dose of analgesics was self-recorded. Results: In tSFE group, implants (length: 10.2 ` 0.8 mm) were placed at sites with a bone height of 5.9 ` 1.3 mm. Mem- brane perforation occurred in 1 tSFE case. In N group, implants with a length of 10.0 ` 0.7 mm were placed. The duration of the procedure was significantly longer in tSFE group compared to N group. No significant inter-group difference in the dose of anesthetics, VRSdiscomfort, and VRSwillingness was observed. VAS- pain was low (<16) in both groups, with significantly higher scores in tSFE versus N group from day +3 to +7. The dose of analgesics was similarly low between groups. Conclusion: Implant placement with tSFE (Trombelli et al. 2009) or entirely in native bone are associated with limited trauma and both well tolerated. Compared to the latter, tSFE requires additional surgical time, may result in the persistence of low pain levels up to the 7th day post-surgery but is associated with a similar use of analgesics.