Reconstruction of maxillary alveolar defects with mandibular symphysis grafts for dental implants: a preliminary procedural report.

Partially edentulous patients with alveolar defects contraindicating implant placement were treated with bone grafts obtained from the mandibular symphysis. Complications encountered were minor and uneventful. Evaluation 4 months after surgery revealed minimal graft resorption, thus implant placement was possible in all potential sites. Advantages of the symphysis graft include easy access, availability of greater quantities of bone over other intraoral donor sites, low morbidity, no hospitalization, minimal discomfort, no alteration in ambulation, and no cutaneous scar. Compared with other bone regenerative methods for implant placement, a superior quality of bone was found and a shorter healing period is required. Results of this preliminary clinical investigation demonstrate that chin grafts offer a viable alternative for reconstruction of alveolar defects prior to dental implant placement.

Post-operative maxillary cyst associated with a maxillary sinus elevation procedure: a case report.

Proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and surgical manipulation of the posterior maxilla require a thorough knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology associated with the maxillary sinus. This case report of a post-operative maxillary cyst diagnosed following routine post-operative examination of a sinus elevation procedure illustrates the need for a meticulous surgical technique, proper management of complications, and routine, long-term follow-up. With the increased utilization of sinus elevation techniques, reports of this destructive lesion may become more common.