Evidence Hub

Sinus-Plate Augmentation Method (SPAM) for Lateral Ridge Augmentation in the Maxillary Posterior Area: A Case Series

Dima C, Cosgarea R

Oral health & preventive dentistry, 2026

Abstract

Purpose: This paper describes a novel surgical technique (Sinus-Plate Augmentation Method [SPAM]) using autologous sinus plate bone for posterior lateral maxillary augmentation during sinus lifting and dental implant insertion.

Materials and methods: Eight partially edentulous patients aged 52-71 years old (7 females, 2 smokers) with severe horizontal alveolar bone resorption in the maxillary posterior areas, were surgically treated as follows: lateral bone augmentation was performed by harvesting the vestibular bone wall of the sinus window and using a xenogeneic bone graft, followed by external sinus lifting and implant insertion. Seven patients were followed-up for 12-18 months, while one patient was followed-up for 36 months.

Results: A total of 24 implants were inserted simultaneously with SPAM and sinus lifting. Post-operative healing was uneventful in all cases. Horizontal alveolar bone gain ranged between 9.28±1.2 mm post-operatively and 8.37±1.5 mm at the 19.5-month follow-up. A statistically significant gain in alveolar bone width of 2.55±1.47 mm was present at the follow-up.

Conclusion: SPAM seems to be a feasible surgical technique for the horizontal reconstruction of moderate to severely resorbed posterior maxillae, concomitant to external sinus lifting and implant insertion.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free