Written by DTC Miami
Created 02/04/2019
Dental implants have been effective at restoring smiles throughout the world. Implant placement in cases of edentulism are more complex and require further understanding of oral implantology. Augmenting the size of the ridge presents the dimensions that are needed for stable implant placement.
Often enough, patients who have alveolar resorption come into your office looking for solutions to their dental health problems. According to a study from the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, “Advanced alveolar bone loss (>7 mm) may result in esthetically and functionally compromised dental prosthesis like removable and fixed partial dentures and ideal implant placement in prosthetically driven position.”(1). Certain methods and techniques can give the patient the opportunity to restore their smile.
In a case from the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology the topics of augmentation, implants and different grafting techniques are discussed. The patient, 45 years old, suffered a traffic accident which caused “severe vertical ridge resorption in maxillary anterior region with highest resorption in left lateral incisor region…”(2). The surgical procedure to restore this patient involved titanium mesh and a bone replacement material as well as xenograft and autograft techniques. The case report concluded that, “ Overall the survival rates of implants placed in augmented ridges is 87%…”(3).
Many other studies involving ridge augmentation, xenograft, autograft, titanium mesh and bone replacement materials have had similar success rates. Some of the concerns of these complex implant cases are mesh exposure, but proper management reduces the chance of affecting overall success rates. Vertical and horizontal ridge augmentation has different techniques and use of materials depending on the complexity of the case. Many factors have to be considered when performing these types of procedures. Nonetheless, the success rates of these procedures alongside dental implant success rates are evident to the benefit of smile restorations.
Deshpande, Sudhendra et al. “Vertical and horizontal ridge augmentation in anterior maxilla using autograft, xenograft and titanium mesh with simultaneous placement of endosseous implants” Journal of Indian Society of Periodontologyvol. 18,5 (2014): 661-5.