Rehabilitation of the edentulous posterior maxilla with dental implants often represents a clinical challenge due to the insufficient bone volume resulting from pneumatization of the maxillary sinus and crestal bone resorption. Objective: The aim of this study was a histological evaluation of maxillary sinus lifting using calcium sulfate (Surgiplaster, Classimplant, Rome, Italy) and Bio-Oss (Geistlich, Wohlhusen, Switzerland). Methods: Five partially edentulous patients with maxillary atrophic ridge were treated with osseointegrated implants and maxillary sinus augmentation. All patients gave their informed consent. After 6 months, in each patient, a biopsy specimen was obtained using a trephine bur. The specimens were immediatelly fixed in 10% buffered formalin, dehydrated in an ascending series of alcohol rinses and embedded in a glycolmethacrylate resin (Technovit 7200 VLC, Kulzer, Wehrheim, Germany). Thin ground sections were obtained using the Precise 1 Automated System (Assing, Rome, Italy). Results: Microscopically, in all specimens, it was possible to see newly formed bone with the presence of large osteocytic lacunae, while lamellar bone and Haversian system were not present. Few osteoblasts were present, while no osteoclasts were observed. No inflammatory cells were present. The newly formed bone surrounded the Bio-Oss particles, while calcium sulfate appeared to be almost completely resorbed. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that calcium sulfate associated with Bio-Oss can be used with success in maxillary sinus lifting.

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