This was the case of a 58-year-old female pati ent who attended the dentist practice to assess the 16th and 17th molars for pain and mobility. On clinical examination, mobility of both was observed with suppuration at the level of the sulcus. Radiography confirmed our diagnosis of considerable bone loss and sinus perforation at the apex of both molars (Figure 2).

Both teeth were extracted and alveoli regenerated with PRGFEndoret to seal the perforation and provide the most favourable evolution possible for subsequent insertion of the implants in the area.

After two months, the dental conebeam showed the perforation had closed completely but the residual bone volume provided 2 mm of bone height only, which was insufficient to insert the implants (Figures 3 and 4).

Therefore, it was decided to carry out a sinus lift using biomaterial (bovine hydroxyapatite) bound to PRGFEndoret. The elevation was performed and after five months a new dental cone beam displayed the quantity and quality of the graft obtained for the insertion of dental implants. In the cuts corresponding to the molars of the first quadrant, we observed excellent consolidation of the graft with space to insert 13 mm implants. Today, we would not choose this implant length, since studies published by our group with short and extra-short implants support their use, in addition to showing their diameter is more important than the length to distribute the loads of an already integrated implant; where an 8.5 mm length implant would work in the same way as a 13 mm implant of the same diameter¹⁸.

Back in 2007, the therapeutic protocol for these cases was very different (Figures 5-7), with short implants without full development – and without studies demonstrating the importance of diameter over implant length – efforts were focused on the search for anchorage by implant length instead of looking for the bicortical (vestibular-lingual) stability that short and wide implants perform. During this ti me, the failure of molars 46 and 47 also occurred; these were also extracted and replaced with dental implants.

Six months after implant placement, the final prosthesis was made by using a cemented bridge. This prosthetic protocol is also not one we currently use, where tightness, sealing and the use of screw-retained prostheses using an intermediate or transepithelial component prevail. However, at that ti me, this type of rehabilitation and the conformation of a “bio” emergence profile in the abutments was how these cases were treated (Figure 8)^13-18. The implementation of transepithelial implants in screw-retained prostheses opens a new horizon in the prosthesis, changing our working group protocol of towards an improvement in the implant-prosthesis seal, at the same ti me as prosthetic imbalance is reduced (due to taking the impression directly on the transepithelial and not on the implant connection) and tightness is improved; which reduces the risk of peri-implantitis, among other things^19-20.

Aft er 4 years, the second and third quadrant molars began to have excessive mobility and serious periodontal problems, so it was decided to remove them and regenerate the alveoli with PRGF-Endoret. Once the area was regenerated (a month and a half later), a conebeam was performed to evaluate the residual bone volume. It can be seen how there was an uneven bone crest with areas of 3.3 mm in height up to a maximum of 7 mm (Figures 9 and 10). On this occasion, due to the protocol change described above, we opted for the direct insertion of extra-short implants, since the surgical protocols to address this type of situation in 2011 varied substantially, with these implants being a first-line tool for the treatment of this type of atrophy (Figure 11). Two extra-short implants were selected (5.5 mm diameter x 6.5 mm length for tooth 26, and 6 mm diameter x 5.5 mm length for tooth 27).

Six months aft er the insertion of the extra-short implants, the final prosthesis was inserted; in this case, screwed and with an intermediate (transepithelial) component; just as the lower prosthesis in the third quadrant was made. At this point in ti me, the philosophy of work using a screwretained prosthesis with a transepithelial and the search for tightness and passive fi t were the dominant concerns for implant rehabilitation, and this is sti ll so today (Figure 12).

Finally, the stability of both treatments can be seen in the final X-ray at 8 years of age, where both are stable without bone loss (Figure 13).

Therapeutic protocols in implantology have evolved markedly in recent years, moving towards minimally invasive approaches, without renouncing reliability. Therefore, short and extra-short implants are an option used increasingly to avoid aggressive surgeries with high morbidity, and are also an alternative for the rehabilitation of the atrophic posterior maxilla in height, avoiding having to use techniques to lift the sinus when the residual bone height allows^15-17.

Since the description of the conventional sinus lift ing technique (lateral window) by Tatum in 1986²², this procedure has been used for the rehabilitation of posterior maxillary sectors with vertical atrophy, with highly successful rates, currently around 98%, and long-term follow-up (over 15 years)^26-27. A drawback of this technique is that it can cause perforation of the Schneiderian membrane and, although today this is no longer an exclusion for the insertion of implants in the same surgery (depending on the extent of the perforation and the case), when this perforation occurs, the success rates of implants inserted in these areas decreases to 88.6%⁶ . In addition, the need for several surgeries together with a greater increase in patient morbidity, make us opt for less invasive techniques, such as short implants. When inserted in edentulous posterior sectors with elevated vertical resorption, these implants have a lower rate of surgical and prosthetic complications and less marginal bone loss; they are therefore a reliable alternative to bone augmentation procedures and subsequent implant insertion²⁸.

Summers in 1994 described the first variation of the lateral approach technique with a modification to reduce its invasiveness. This technique consists of an approach from the alveolar crest through the use of progressive calibre osteotomes that make a hole that serves both for the elevation of the Schneiderian membrane and the subsequent placement of the dental implant²⁹. This technique has been widely used for the crestal approach of the extreme posterior resorption of the maxilla, with survival figures of the inserted implants between 88.65%³⁰ and 100%³¹.

Other techniques have been used to approach the atrophic posterior maxilla to varying degrees; such as bone distraction, zygomatic implants, en bloc grafts and guided bone regeneration. All of them have similar success rates to the two shown in this clinical case; with the short and extra-short implants being the ones with the lowest rate of complications and morbidity for the patient^32-35.

Long-term survival of short implants also has a very similar rate to that of long implants with sinus lift; therefore, both can be considered as the technique of choice. However, from the point of view of morbidity, the short implants are the better alternative^36-37.

In the clinical case described, both therapeutic alternatives show successful treatment for this clinical situation and this specific patient, and can be considered equally valid for resolving the vertical atrophy of the maxilla. For cases with a higher degree of vertical atrophy or those with different bone density and residual volume, the application of one or another technique must be assessed for the success of the treatment.