"Sandwich" bone augmentation technique: rationale and report of pilot cases

The aim of this article is to present a new technique for augmentation of deficient alveolar ridges and/or correction of osseous defects around dental implants. Current knowledge regarding bone augmentation for treatment of osseous defects prior to and in combination with dental implant placement is critically appraised. The "sandwich" bone augmentation technique is demonstrated step by step. Five pilot cases with implant dehiscence defects averaging 10.5 mm were treated with the technique. At 6 months, the sites were uncovered, and complete defect fill was noted in all cases. Results from this pilot case study indicated that the sandwich bone augmentation technique appears to enhance the outcomes of bone augmentation by using the positive properties of each applied material (autograft, DFDBA, hydroxyapatite, and collagen membrane). Future clinical trials for comparison of this approach with other bone augmentation techniques and histologic evaluation of the outcomes are needed to validate these findings.