Reconstruction of atrophic alveolar edentulous ridge with autologous mandibular symphysis block bone graft for future implant placement

Abstract

Alveolar ridge resorption after a tooth loss due to disease, atrophy or trauma is a common phenomenon. Often in clinical practice, the loss of a tooth does not coincide with replacement by a dental implant, therefore it is often required that we perform hard tissue ridge augmentation to increase bone volume prior to dental implant placement and restoration so that the implants can be inserted in ideal bucco-lingual and mesio-distal position with good axial inclination and to reshape soft tissue contour. This study demonstrated the amount of resorption of Symphysis Block graft which helps to harvest adequate bone in future to compensate resorption for future implant placement. The accurate graft resorption and required graft harvest was assessed with Cone Beam CT. Five patients underwent harvesting of corticocancellous bone from Mandibular symphysis region for Reconstruction of atrophic alveolar ridge. A tension free closure was obtained. Periosteal scoring was done and flap was closed tension free. We assessed the preoperative available bone and the defect in horizontal and vertical dimensions in the anterior region and evaluated the amount of bone graft necessary to augment the defect.