Horizontal distraction of the anterior maxilla in combination with bilateral sinuslift operation--preliminary report

In many cases alveolar ridge atrophy causes severe alveolar ridge deficiency in horizontal and vertical direction. In cases of severe atrophy of the edentulous maxilla a maxillary retrognathism results. In this article, a new technique of solving this problem prior to implant placement is described. In six patients with severe atrophy of the edentulous maxilla a sinuslift operation and placement of dental implants were carried out in the posterior maxilla. In the anterior part of the maxilla a segmental split osteotomy and placement of two miniplate distractors were performed. One week after surgery distraction started with a distraction speed of 0.5 mm a day until a clinical correct position of the anterior maxilla resulted. Then, the stabilisation period of 12 weeks followed before the distractors were removed and two to four implants were placed in the anterior distracted maxilla. After a second healing period of 4 months the implants were used for loading by a fixed prosthetic superstructure. Six patients were treated by this regime and 58 implants were placed. All implants were loaded by a fixed prosthesis. Distraction was performed without disturbances. Three months after healing new bone was formed in the distraction gap. There was no implant loss. An aesthetic satisfying superstructure with good red and white aesthetics was achieved together with a correct interalveolar relation. Distraction of the anterior part of the maxilla in combination with sinuslift operation is an alternative technique for correction of interalveolar incongruences in the edentulous maxilla and augmentation prior to implant placement.