The posterior maxilla has traditionally presented a challenge for successful placement of dental implants due to a combination of poor bone quality, ridge atrophy, and pneumatization of the sinus floor following tooth extraction. However, with the successful and predictable surgical outcomes reported in the literature, more clinicians and patients are choosing an implant-supported restoration in the edentulous posterior maxilla. Consequently, sinus elevation and augmentation have gained more popularity. Extensive research has been conducted on types of bone graft materials and implants, less-invasive techniques to perform sinus augmentation, and timing for implant placement for sinus grafting. Despite the predictability of the techniques and biomaterials employed in sinus grafting procedures, intra- and postoperative complications are common. Much of the current literature discusses the local risk factors related to sinus augmentation, with few studies focusing on the patient-related risk factors. The purpose of this review is to identify, evaluate, and discuss the possible management of patient-related risk factors to allow for more predictable maxillary sinus floor augmentation outcomes.
