Cylindrical Ringbone Allograft to Restore Atrophic Implant Sites: A Pilot Study

Atrophic or severely deficient edentulous single tooth dental implant sites require osseous augmentation before any dental implant surgery. This may be accomplished by several procedures, allowing for several months of healing in order to achieve osteogenesis. After the initial site preparation, an implant may be placed and then allowed to heal for 3-6 months before the prosthetics are placed. This entire procedure may take several months to a year to complete. With the technique described herein, these cases were treated with an allograft ring or cylinder of bone that allowed for immediate placement of an implant. The allograft augmentation and implant placement are done at the same appointment. This technique shortens treatment time and may be valuable in treatment of failed implant sites. Further study is needed to refine and improve this technique.