We assessed the applicability of the surgical procedure for maxillary sinus floor augmentation prior to dental implant（DE）placement. Our subjects comprised 40 patients receiving DEs: 28 without bone augmentation （WBA） and 25 with maxillary sinus floor augmentation. The crestal approach （CA） and lateral approach （LA） were used in 12 and 13 patients, respectively, based on the residual bone height （CA: ≥6 mm, LA: <4 mm）. DEs were placed following bone augmentation. Bone absorption was measured using radiographs of DEs’ shoulder and tip taken immediately after DE placement and at 1 year and 3 years postoperatively. No significant differences between CA and LA were noted. Applicability of the surgical technique for sinus floor augmentation should be decided based on the residual bone volume of the posterior maxilla.