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Updated: Apr 24, 2026

A Postoperative Evaluation Guideline for Computer-Assisted Reconstruction of the Mandible
Published on: January 28, 2020
Evaluation of bone shells for 3D bone reconstruction of atrophic posterior mandible: a randomized controlled clinical
Rami Richa1, Nada M H Fahmy2, Hagar Sherif Abdel Fattah3
1Department of Oral Surgical Sciences, Division of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficiency of using the bone shells combined with xenograft + PRF for Three-dimensional (3D) ridge reconstruction of the posterior atrophic mandible.
Materials And Methods:
This study was a randomized controlled trial on patients with posterior mandibular edentulism associated with the presence of vertical bone deficiency. 3D bone augmentation was performed on 13 randomly allocated patients with guided bone regeneration (control group), where the study group was composed of 13 patients who received the bone-modified shells technique. Implants were placed 6 months after bone augmentation for both groups. Clinically, healing, pain, and implant stability were evaluated. In addition to the radiographical evaluation of vertical bone height. The nature and maturation of augmented bone were evaluated histologically.
Results:
The early follow-up showed no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of wound dehiscence. Statistically significant difference in pain in the early healing phase in favor to control group. No statistical difference between the 2 groups in terms of bone quantity after 6months at the implant placement.
Conclusion:
The favorable clinical outcomes indicate that the combination of xenograft with an autogenous cortical shell may represent a viable option for three-dimensional bone augmentation with reduced donor-site morbidity. The cortical shell thickness used was sufficient to maintain the augmented alveolar contour and structural integrity, allowing predictable containment and uninterrupted incorporation of the xenograft coagulum.

