Ridge augmentation with titanium screws and guided tissue regeneration: technique and report of a case

A technique is described for augmenting an edentulous ridge buccally with a mixture of freeze-dried bone and resorbable tricalcium phosphate covered with a Gore-Tex membrane. Titanium screws are used to prevent the collapse of the regenerative materials. In the patient described, the buccolingual dimensions of the edentulous mandibular ridge more than doubled, thus allowing the placement of two implant cylinders. The rationale for such a procedure is discussed.