Alternative to the gold standard for alveolar ridge augmentation: tenting screw technology

Studies have discussed the potential issues associated with the placement of implants in unfavorable locations. Today, it is possible to optimize implant placement despite the significant ridge resorption that often occurs after tooth extraction. This objective is achievable because techniques exist to augment resorbed alveolar ridges to prerequisite widths and heights for proper implant position. A group of surgical procedures have evolved that are considered to be the gold standard for achieving alveolar ridge width and height augmentation. This article discusses the purported gold standard procedure of onlay block grafts for ridge augmentation and contrasts those grafts with the equally successful, more time- and cost-effective tenting screw technology, in conjunction with guided bone regeneration, which has less morbidity and involves only one surgical site. Three cases are presented to illustrate the utilization and effectiveness of tenting screw technology.