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Prevalence of Buccal Ridge Concavities Following Implant Placement With Contour Bone Augmentation: A Cross-Sectional
Sophia E Vollath1, Giorgina M Wiedmer1, Clemens Raabe1,2
1Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology, University of Bern School of Dental Medicine, Bern, Switzerland.
Clinical Oral Implants Research
|February 25, 2026
Summary
Buccal ridge concavity (BRC) was present in 100% of patients after dental implant placement with contour bone augmentation (CBA), indicating incomplete ridge volume restoration. Despite this, patients reported high satisfaction with esthetics and function.
Area of Science:
- Dental Implantology
- Periodontology
- Oral Surgery
Background:
- Contour bone augmentation (CBA) is used with dental implants to enhance ridge volume.
- Long-term outcomes of CBA, specifically buccal ridge concavity (BRC), are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term prevalence and characteristics of buccal ridge concavity (BRC) after dental implant placement with simultaneous contour bone augmentation (CBA).
Main Methods:
- An exploratory cross-sectional study included 186 adult patients with single-tooth non-molar implant-supported prostheses.
- Intra-oral scans were analyzed to assess BRC at multiple apico-coronal levels.
- Clinical, digital, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected after a mean follow-up of 11.4 years.
Main Results:
- Buccal ridge concavity (BRC) was observed in 100% of sites and patients, with mean values ranging from -0.83 mm at the mucosal margin to -0.47 mm at 5 mm apical.
- Greater BRC was associated with male patients, premolar sites, longer implants (≥12 mm), increased crestal bone loss, and less keratinized mucosa.
- Patients reported high satisfaction with esthetics, function, and overall treatment, with low OHIP-14 scores (2 ± 4).
Conclusions:
- Dental implant placement with CBA does not fully restore alveolar ridge volume in non-molar sites, consistently resulting in BRC.
- BRC is most pronounced at the coronal aspect of the augmented ridge.
- Despite the radiographic finding of BRC, patient-reported outcomes indicate high satisfaction with the esthetic and functional results.
