[Dental implants and bone grafts]

The reconstruction of an edentulous maxilla with bone graft is not a challenge. It is considered when the remaining bone cannot provide a firm anchorage for implants. The grafts are harvested from the ilium, the chin or the cranial vault. According to the case, the implants are placed either simultaneously or 6 months later after control with C.T. Scan. They are uncovered after another 6 month period, as in the usual procedure, and osseointegration is checked. The percentage of success on 24 operated cases seems at least equal to the regular cases without bone graft. Longer follow-up is needed for reliable statistics.