Effect of biologic materials on the outcomes of horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate if the addition of biologic agents to a particulate bone graft enhances horizontal ridge augmentation outcomes in terms of bone dimensions, bone density, and successful implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was done to assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes in 52 horizontal ridge augmentation sites in 43 patients. Information was gathered regarding surgical technique, type of graft material, biologic agents used (PRP or rhPDGF-BB), method of space maintenance, and achieved alveolar ridge width and bone density changes as quantified on CBCT scans. RESULTS: The use of tenting screws, a resorbable membrane, and a combination of particulate allogenic and xenogenic bone graft material provided an average horizontal bone gain of 3.6 mm in the 52 augmented sites. There was no statistically significant difference observed in the amount of horizontal bone gain between sites treated with the addition of biologic agents (n = 21), or with a particulate bone graft alone (n = 31). A marginally statistically significant difference was found in the density of the grafted bone with the addition of biologics (p value = .0653). CONCLUSION: The addition of biologic agents to the graft materials did not have a significant effect on the amount of horizontal bone gain or successful implant placement; however, it marginally enhanced the bone density of the grafted area.

Effect of postoperative steroids on clinical outcomes and radiographic findings of horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to investigate if the prescription of oral postoperative steroids has an effect on clinical outcomes of horizontal ridge augmentation including implant placement and characteristics of the grafted bone. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 73 horizontal ridge augmentation cases was completed to assess the clinical outcomes, 53 of those cases were further assessed radiographically. Information was gathered regarding surgical technique, grafting materials, postoperative healing, medications used postoperatively, bone growth, and density changes as quantified on a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. Statistical analysis was completed to identify whether the use of postoperative oral steroids altered outcomes. RESULTS: Steroids were used postoperatively following various horizontal ridge augmentation procedures. The use of tenting screws and resorbable membranes with a combination of osseous allograft and xenograft was used in 73 cases, 53 of which had preoperative and postoperative CBCT scans. Graft exposure occurred in five of the cases (9%), with the majority (n = 4) among those with postoperative steroids, but this was not statistically significant (P-value = 0.6510). Use of steroids was also not significantly associated with the number of courses of antibiotics (P-value > 0.05), but it was significantly associated with increased number of postoperative visits (P-value < 0.05). Among the subset for radiographic analysis (n = 53), there were significant clinical and radiographic dimensional changes in alveolar ridge width with an average horizontal bone gain of 3.6 mm. There were no statistically significant differences found in radiographic linear bone gain or clinical outcomes with the addition of steroids. A marginally statistically significant in the density of grafted bone was found with the addition of steroids (P-value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prescription of postoperative steroids did not make a significant difference in clinical outcomes, success of implant placement or on radiographic assessment of grafted sites following horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation.