Engineered bone by autologous osteoblasts on polymeric scaffolds in maxillary sinus augmentation: histologic report

Several regenerative therapies have been used for maxillary sinus grafting. However, recent advances in modern bone tissue engineering techniques have been evaluated. The aim of this histologic report was to evaluate the bone obtained by a culture of autogenous osteoblasts seeded on polyglycolic-polylactid scaffolds in maxillary sinus augmentation. A 56-year-old partially edentulous male with severe atrophy of the posterior maxilla received 6 polyglycolid-polylactid disks (8 mm diameter × 2 mm depth, Oral Bone), each carrying 1.5 million autogenous osteoblasts into the depth of the sinus cavity. After 6 months healing, a bone core was harvested and histologically evaluated. The augmented maxillary sinus with engineered bone presented a mean of 28.89\% and 71.11\% of bone and medullary spaces, respectively. Data from this case report demonstrate that the newly formed bone provided by engineered bone tissue allowed proper initial stability for dental implant placement. However, the role of this new bone in the long-term success of dental implant anchorage needs further investigation.