Maxillary sinus lift: Summers technique

Abstract

Rehabilitation of the posterior atrophic maxilla using osseointegrated implants requires a sufficient amount of bone for adequate implant stability. Tooth loss results in resorption of the alveolar bone, reducing the amount of bone available for dental implants, in addition to increasing pneumatization of the maxillary sinus, which makes implant placement difficult. To address this bone deficiency, several surgical approaches have been developed, especially in the posterior maxillary region, where techniques such as osteotomes and lateral window are used to increase bone height. Maxillary sinus elevation is one of the main surgeries to allow implant placement. The maxillary sinus elevation technique with osteotomes, improved by Summers, is less invasive and aims to preserve the existing bone, minimizing trauma and improving the success rate of implants.