Background and objectives: To evaluate the benefits of pre-operative model surgery and the ease of use of a maxillary sinus surgical stent (MSSS) during maxillary sinus augmentation surgery with a lateral approach.

Methods: Five patients admitted to our clinic for rehabilitation of a partially or totally edentulous maxilla with an implant-supported fixed prosthesis and requiring sinus augmentation were operated on using an MSSS.

Results: The use of an MSSS was found to be effective in terms of adaptation (62.5%), window preparation (87.5%), ease of elevation (95.9%), ease of grafting (95.9%), reduction of perforation risk (91.7%) and achieving immobility during the procedure (62.5%); however, the use of an MSSS was also found to prolong the surgical procedure (100%) and restrict the view of the surgical area (79.2%).

Conclusion: An MSSS appears to be a useful tool for locating an appropriate entrance to the sinus cavity, allowing for safe elevation of the sinus membrane and effectively grafting the sinus floor.