Alveolar Ridge Splitting Technique with Simultaneous Implant Placement in Anterior Mandible for Removable Mandibular Implant Supported Prosthesis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the alveolar ridge split technique in a series of surgical cases in anterior mandible for two-implant retained overdenture. Twelve patients were included in this study. The surgeries took place under local anesthesia and consisted of a mid-crestal incision and subsequent bone management with a piezoelectric system. Once the approximately 3 mm expansion had been achieved, the implants were installed and present defects were filled with autogenous bone harvested from the bone crest with a bone scraper. There was a fracture of the bone plate in 3 cases, the fractured plates stabilized with osteosynthesis screws. In each case the implants were simultaneously placed. A total of 24 implants were placed. In the second surgery no implants were lost. It can be concluded that the bone splitting/expansion seem to be a reliable, predictable, relatively non-invasive technique and presenting limited intraoperative complications to correct narrow edentulous ridges.