Confronted with the loss of alveolar crestal bone
height in the posterior maxilla, some researchers have
applied sinus augmentation procedures to increase the
posterior maxillary bone height to achieve the successful
placement of dental implants4,6 and others have
used graft materials to improve the dimension of residual
alveolar ridge before implant placement.7,8 Despite
great technologic advances in dental implant surgery,
atrophied posterior maxilla remains one of the most
difficult regions for implant placement,9 and all of these
procedures eventually lead to prolonged treatment time