Enhancement of support for mandibular complete denture prosthesis: A preprosthetic ridge augmentation procedure by distraction osteogenesis

Abstract

Poor and resorbed mandibular residual alveolar ridge result from periodontal disease, trauma or disuse atrophy, which complicate the clinical procedures of fabrication and limit the support for the complete denture prosthesis. Reconstruction of the residual alveolar ridge is challenging because the deformity involves deficiency in both the bone and the mucosa. Alveolar distraction osteogenesis is a relatively recent method that, compared with onlay grafts or guided bone regeneration, has less morbidity, better previsibility, and less bone resorption. Compared with other techniques of regeneration, alveolar distraction osteogenesis permits less treatment time because the distraction segments are well formed in 12 weeks. This article presents a case report of a successful alternative approach prior to prosthodontic rehabilitation of a patient with poor and resorbed mandibular ridges, using alveolar distraction osteogenesis as a preprosthetic procedure and further discusses the merits and demerits of this novel procedure when considering implant placement.