Measuring the outcomes of lateral ridge augmentation using cone-beam computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Implantology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Lateral ridge augmentation (LRA) is a key procedure to enhance bone volume before dental implant placement.
• Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) offers precise pre- and post-operative imaging for quantitative bone assessment.
• Evaluating bone regeneration efficacy is crucial for successful implant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess bone regeneration following Lateral Ridge Augmentation (LRA) using CBCT imaging.
• To compare pre- and post-operative bone dimensions (width, height, volume) in edentulous ridges.
• To identify factors influencing bone gain after LRA.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 30 adult patients undergoing LRA with pre- and post-operative CBCT scans.
• Linear measurements (width, height) and volumetric analysis of bone gain at the edentulous site.
• High intra-examiner reliability (Intra-Class Coefficient > 0.974) confirmed measurement accuracy.

Main Results:

• Significant mean bone increase observed in both linear (1.5-2.5 mm) and volumetric (250-750 mm³) measurements.
• Pre-surgery bone volume and mandibular location were strongest predictors of bone gain.
• Maxillary anterior sites showed the least successful outcomes with LRA.

Conclusions:

• LRA is an effective bone augmentation technique for the majority of patients, particularly in the mandible.
• CBCT provides reliable quantitative data for evaluating LRA outcomes.
• Further research may be needed to optimize LRA in challenging maxillary anterior sites.