Clinical efficacy of the graft free slit-window sinus floor elevation procedure: A 2-year randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Slit-window technique is a lateral approach sinus floor elevation (SFE) procedure that utilizes a rigid resorbable membrane in conjunction with stabilizing bony slits to tent the Schneiderian membrane without addition of grafting materials. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of the Slit-window SFE with those of SFE with bone grafting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with 38 edentulous sites were included. Edentulous sites were randomly allocated to the Slit-window SFE or SFE with bone grafting. Simultaneous with SFE, each site received two dental implants. Implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were recorded at baseline and monthly visits for 8 months. The bone coverage and bone height gain at implant sites were recorded on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans 6 and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the mean ISQ values between the groups at any time point (p > 0.05). All implants in both groups were found to have complete bone coverage. Significant increases in the bone height were found 6 and 24 months postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Within limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that the Slit-window SFE technique without the need for bone grafting resulted in sufficient bone height gain around implants placed simultaneous with the SFE procedures. The bone height around these implants was stable during the 2-year follow-up period. The treatment outcomes for these implants were comparable to those placed simultaneous with lateral approach SFE in conjunction with bone grafting.

Potential for Stem Cell-Based Periodontal Therapy.

Periodontal diseases are highly prevalent and are linked to several systemic diseases. The goal of periodontal treatment is to halt the progression of the disease and regenerate the damaged tissue. However, achieving complete and functional periodontal regeneration is challenging because the periodontium is a complex apparatus composed of different tissues, including bone, cementum, and periodontal ligament. Stem cells may represent an effective therapeutic tool for periodontal regeneration due to their plasticity and their ability to regenerate different tissues. This review presents and critically analyzes the available information on stem cell-based therapy for the regeneration of periodontal tissues and suggests new avenues for the development of more effective therapeutic protocols.