Alveolar ridge augmentation using distraction osteogenesis: a clinical trial.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Prosthodontics
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Severely resorbed alveolar ridges pose significant challenges for dental prostheses.
• Current reconstructive methods like bone augmentation have variable outcomes.
• Distraction osteogenesis offers a method for bone regeneration under controlled tension.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of alveolar distraction osteogenesis (ADO) for vertically deficient alveolar ridges.

Main Methods:

• ADO was performed at 10 intra-oral sites in partially or completely edentulous patients.
• A latency period of 5 days was followed by distraction at 1 mm/day for 6-7 days.
• Distractors were removed after a 12-week consolidation period.

Main Results:

• A mean bone height gain of 4.8 mm (±0.056) was achieved across the 10 sites.
• The average follow-up duration was 2 years.
• Complications included hardware failure, wound gape, and extra-oral scarring, with an overall complication rate of 10%.

Conclusions:

• Distraction osteogenesis is a viable and promising technique for prosthodontic rehabilitation.
• ADO can successfully address severe vertical alveolar ridge resorption.
• This method aids in achieving uneventful prosthetic outcomes for patients with significant bone loss.