Comparing One-Stage Versus Two-Stage Ridge Splitting Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Periodontology
• Dental Implantology

Background:

• Alveolar ridge atrophy presents a challenge for dental implant placement.
• Ridge splitting techniques augment bone width for implant rehabilitation.
• Comparing one-stage and two-stage ridge split procedures is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and compare the efficacy of one-stage versus two-stage ridge split procedures.
• To conduct a meta-analysis of existing scientific literature on ridge splitting techniques.
• To assess the outcomes of these procedures in adult patients.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO Host (Jan 2000-Dec 2021).
• Meta-analysis using standardized mean difference (SMD) with a random effect model; quality assessment via Newcastle Ottawa Scale and JBI critical checklist.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies were included; three were suitable for meta-analysis.
• A moderate to high risk of bias was noted across included studies.
• The meta-analysis favored the one-stage ridge split by 0.89 SMD, though heterogeneity and publication bias were concerns.

Conclusions:

• One-stage ridge split procedures demonstrate superiority over two-stage procedures based on this comparative meta-analysis.
• Further high-quality research may be needed to mitigate bias and heterogeneity.
• The findings suggest a preferred approach for alveolar ridge augmentation.