Vertical ridge augmentation using sandwich osteotomy: 2 case reports

The placement of dental implants in atrophic jaws is a challenging procedure due to inadequate bone quantity. This anatomic limitation can be overcome by various treatment methods such as onlay bone graft, inlay bone graft (known as sandwich osteotomy), and distraction osteogenesis. Two female patients with complaints of atrophic mandible were included in this study. Both patients were treated with a segmental mandibular sandwich osteotomy with interpositional grafts. This is called a sandwich osteotomy technique because a section of the jaw bone is separated from the main part and a bone graft is inserted between the 2 parts. The postoperative period was uneventful, and sufficient bone gain was obtained in both patients. Sandwich osteotomy is an effective technique to gain vertical bone height in atrophic jaws.