Maxillary Sinus Augmentation Via the "Bone Lid Technique"

A full-thickness flap was elevated to access the lateral maxillary bone wall. Subsequently, a lateral access window was prepared using a piezoelectric device with specific bone tips, delimitating a trapezoidal bone lid. Once the antrostomy was completed, the bone lid was gently removed with a Lucas surgical curette and anatomical tweezers, with great care to avoid damages to the Schneiderian membrane. The Schneiderian membrane was detached from the bone layer using specific sinus curettes. In case of sinus membrane perforation, the membrane was raised in all directions. All clinical cases received a cortical bone lamina to avoid graft particles displacement in the maxillary sinus. The elevated space was filled with chips of cortico-spongious bone. The antrostomy was then covered with the bone lid (osteotomy window), previously removed and preserved in physiological solution and fixed in the original anatomical position with a surgical glue. The flap was then repositioned and sutured.