A maxillary ridge-splitting technique followed by immediate placement of implants: a case report

Maxillary alveolar atrophy often limits the placement of dental implants. This article reports on a refinement of a technique for widening the atrophic ridge by splitting the alveolar bone longitudinally. Treatment of a patient with a severely resorbed edentulous maxilla is described. Six 4-mm wide by 13-mm long threaded Osseotite implants were placed immediately within the split ridge and surrounded with a mixture of autogenous tuberosity and bovine bone. The advantages of this technique for patients include less surgical trauma and condensed treatment time.