Localized ridge augmentation with a block allograft followed by secondary implant placement: a case report

A 37-year-old woman presented with severe ridge resportion of the mandibular left first molar and requested placement of a dental implant in lieu of a traditional fixed partial denture. The patient preferred an allograft to avoid a second surgical site to harvest an autogenous bone graft. A new solvent-dehydrated, allogeneic, corticocancellous bone graft material was selected for the case. The allograft was shaped to fit the defect, rehydrated in sterile saline, stabilized with fixation screws, and covered with platelet-rich plasma and a resorbable collagen membrane prior to soft tissue closure. Four months later, the bone graft was incorporated into the host tissue without complications and effectively expanded the ridge from 3 to 9 mm. The implant osseointegrated and was restored with a computer-milled abutment and single crown. The allograft maintained its strength and structural integrity, and was well-tolerated by the host tissues. A screw-design implant was placed in the previously augmented bone site and successfully restored with a computer-milled post and cemented single-tooth prosthesis. The allograft material was a highly effective modality for restoring the case, and it may significantly reduce the need to obtain autogenous bone from a secondary site.