Purpose: To investigate the effects of sinus membrane stabilization (via suturing) and dental implant placement on the endo-sinus bone formation in lateral sinus elevations performed without grafting. Materials and Methods: Maxillary sinus elevation surgery using the lateral approach was performed bilaterally on 30 New Zealand white rabbits. The maxillary sinus areas were divided into control and test groups. In the control group, a titanium screw was placed after sinus membrane elevation; in the test group, the sinus membrane was sutured to the lateral walls, and a titanium screw was placed in the center of the alveolar crest. The subjects were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks. Then samples were collected, and a microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis was performed. In addition, the volume of newly formed bone, percentage of osseointegration, sinus volume, residual bone height, and implant protrusion length were measured using micro-CT analysis. Results: The sinus volume, volume of newly formed bone, and percentage of osseointegration in the test group were significantly higher than in the control group at 4 weeks (P = .01, P = .04, P = .02, respectively). While the volume of newly formed bone was 17.1 ± 3.08 mm3 in the control group, it was 26.9 ± 14.26 mm3 in the test group at 4 weeks. The volume of newly formed bone significantly decreased from 26.9 ± 14.26 mm3 to 17 ± 3.66 mm3 at 8 weeks (P = .02). No significant difference in residual bone height was found at 4 and 8 weeks (P = .07). No significant difference in implant protrusion length was found between the control and test groups (P = .18). Protrusion length and new bone formation in the sinus showed a negative relationship (P = .01). Conclusions: Suturing the sinus membrane to the lateral sinus wall is an effective approach for increasing osseointegration, bone volume, and sinus volume in the short term. A slow-absorbing suture material can be used to maintain sinus and bone volumes in the long term.
