The use of freeze-dried bone as a biologic crib for ridge augmentation. A preliminary report

Freeze-dried bank bone has been used as a biologic crib, packed with autogenous cancellous bone from the iliac crest, to augment mandibular and maxillary ridges. This technique entails little morbidity. It has been used in six patients, with good clinical success. Three of the patients who underwent mandibular augmentations began wearing dentures within 3 months after augmentation surgery. One patient had a soft-tissue breakdown overlying a graft to the maxilla and subsequently lost a portion (less than one third) of the graft; the other two patients are currently ungoing denture construction. Secondary procedures, such as vestibuloplasty, have been necessary in only two of the six patients. Long-term follow-up is needed, but clinical and radiographic evidence to date demonstrates good results.