[Augmentation of severely atrophied jaws with hydroxyapatite from a prosthodontics standpoint]

After 4 years of routine application of hydroxylapatite ridge augmentation 109 patients underwent a posttreatment examination. The quality of the alveolar ridge and the denture as well as the functional status of the craniomandibular system were evaluated in detail. For the maxilla good results were obtained in 80-90%, for the mandible in 70-80%. Further improvements seem more probable by the avoidance of prosthodontic faults and the elimination of functional disturbances than by additional surgical procedures such as vestibuloplasty.