Horizontal bone-augmentation procedures in implant dentistry: prosthetically guided regeneration

Area of Science:

• Oral surgery
• Periodontology
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Implant-supported prostheses are a standard treatment for partially or totally edentulous patients, yielding excellent long-term results.
• Achieving optimal functional and esthetic outcomes with dental implants necessitates precise implant positioning, which often requires sufficient alveolar bone and soft tissue.
• Bone and soft tissue deficiencies, resulting from factors like atrophy, periodontal disease, trauma, or congenital issues, can be addressed through various augmentation techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an evidence-based, prosthetically driven approach for managing edentulous ridges with horizontal bone defects.
• To detail the classification of bony defects and the primary augmentation techniques available.
• To provide guidance on selecting surgical procedures based on defect type and discuss the pros, cons, and limitations of each method.

Main Methods:

• Classification of horizontal bony defects in edentulous ridges.
• Detailed description of guided bone regeneration, bone-grafting, and alveolar bone expansion techniques.
• Evidence-based review of selection criteria for surgical procedures tailored to specific bony defect types.

Main Results:

• The article provides a comprehensive overview of surgical augmentation techniques for horizontal bone defects.
• It outlines criteria for selecting the most appropriate technique based on defect characteristics.
• Advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each augmentation method are discussed in detail.

Conclusions:

• Successful rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses relies on adequate bone volume and soft tissue dimensions.
• Various surgical techniques, including guided bone regeneration and bone grafting, can effectively augment deficient alveolar ridges.
• A prosthetically driven, evidence-based approach is essential for selecting the optimal surgical strategy to treat horizontal bony defects.