Subantral Augmentation
A bone grafting procedure performed beneath the floor of the maxillary sinus to increase vertical bone height for posterior maxillary implant placement.
Full Definition
Subantral augmentation is a collective term for procedures that introduce bone graft material into the space between the sinus membrane (Schneiderian membrane) and the sinus floor to create additional bone volume for implant anchorage in the posterior maxilla. It encompasses both the lateral window (indirect) sinus lift approach and the crestal (Summers/osteotome) technique. The graft material may be autogenous bone, allograft, xenograft, alloplast, or a combination. Editors should note that 'subantral augmentation' and 'sinus lift' are broad synonyms but that 'sinus floor elevation' is preferred in many current journals; authors should be consistent throughout a manuscript.
Usage
Usage note: Interchangeable with 'sinus lift' and 'sinus floor elevation' in most contexts, but authors should select one term and apply it consistently. 'Subantral augmentation' is the more formal anatomical descriptor.
In Context
- "Subantral augmentation using a lateral window approach was performed six months prior to implant placement." — Treatment timeline report
- "The review grouped lateral window sinus lifts and osteotome-mediated crestal approaches under the broader category of subantral augmentation." — Systematic review methodology