Maxillary alveolar bone resorption following tooth loss is compounded by maxillary sinus pneumatization, decreasing residual bone height available for dental implant placement.1 Therefore, various surgical approaches have been developed for sinus floor augmentation depending on the height of the residual bone; maxillary sinus elevation via the lateral window approach is recommended when a minimal bone is available, whereas transcrestal sinus floor elevation is recommended when some residual bone is available.2
Proposed by Robert B. Summers in 1994, the osteotome technique is commonly used for sinus floor elevation.3 Although the minimum bone height needed to perform this technique reliably is debated, a 4-mm limit has been suggested.4
In 2001, Paul A. Fugazzotto described a technique of transcrestal sinus floor elevation using trephines and osteotomes,5 and in 2002, he combined this technique with simultaneous dental implant placement.6 However, technical issues have remained unresolved since then. Therefore,...
