Ridge Preservation Combined With Open Barrier Membrane Technique in Case of Postextractive Oroantral Communication: A Case Series Retrospective Study.

After dental extraction, a physiological phenomenon of reabsorption of the dentoalveolar process is triggered, especially if periradicular lesions are present, which can sometimes be associated with oroantral communication in the upper posterior maxilla. To investigate a minimally invasive approach, 19 patients undergoing tooth extraction in the posterosuperior maxilla were recruited. All cases presented an oroantral communication with a diameter of 2-5 mm after tooth extraction and the alveolar process and, in some cases, with a partial defect of 1 or more bony walls. In these cases, a single surgical procedure was used to preserve the alveolar ridge using an open barrier technique with an exposed dense polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. The bottom of the extraction socket was filled with a collagen fleece. The residual bone process was reconstructed using a biomaterial based on carbonate-apatite derived from porcine cancellous bone. After 6 months, all patients were recalled and subjected to radiographic control associated with an implant-prosthetic rehabilitation plan. Data relating to the sinus health status and the average height and thickness of the regenerated bone were collected. Radiographic evaluation verified the integrity of the maxillary sinus floor with new bone formation, detecting a vertical bone dimension between 3.1 mm and 7.4 mm (average 5.13 ± 1.15 mm) and a horizontal thickness between 4.2 mm and 9.6 mm (average 6.86 ± 1.55 mm). The goal of this study was to highlight the advantage of managing an oroantral communication and, simultaneously, obtain the preservation and regeneration of the alveolar bone crest. The open barrier technique appears to be effective for the minimally invasive management of oroantral communication up to 5 mm in diameter in postextraction sites, with a good regeneration of hard and soft tissue.

Vertical Bone Augmentation with GBR Pocket Technique: Surgical Procedure and Preliminary Results.

AIM: Nowadays, guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a predictable technique in both vertical and horizontal bone defects treatment. GBR Pocket Technique is an original surgical approach adopted in order to reduce the invasiveness of traditional procedures. The aim of this work is to describe the surgical procedure of GBR Pocket Technique in vertical bone augmentation and to compare the clinical outcomes of this technique with the results reported in literature of vertical bone augmentation and crestal bone remodeling achieved after 1 year after implants insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients were recruited for this study and received 28 GBR procedures in the posterior region due to vertical and horizontal defects. A 50/50 mixture of autologous bone component and heterologous bone of equine origin was then made with the use of a bone scraper tunnel with internal reservoir. A PTFE-d membrane with titanium reinforcement was then fixed to the residual bone structure with screws in order to maintain the graft in place. Radiographic checks were made before graft procedures and implants insertion, then 6 months later and 1 year after implants placement. RESULTS: The average bone augmentation after surgery seems to be aligned, or even better, than the average reported in literature with alternative surgical approach; in addition, the mean crestal remodeling after 1 year and the rate of complications are aligned with other previous surgical techniques with a vertical bone augmentation of 8.78 mm ± SD 2.39 and a bone remodeling after 1 year of 0.59 mm ± SD 0.29. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of this technique are preservation of blood circulation and consequently risk of flap necrosis, dehiscence, and graft exposure. This technique also reduces mucosal healing times even if it takes longer surgical time. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: GBR Pocket Technique is the use of a minimal-invasive surgical wound to reduce patient morbidity and compliance.

Minimal Invasive Flapless Piezotome Alveolar Crest Horizontal Split Technique: Preliminary Results.

INTRODUCTION: Alveolar split crest is an established surgical technique to enable implant insertion into narrow and atrophic alveolar crest. This surgical technique is adopted to position standard or large implants so that postextractive anatomy compromises with this attempt. The aim of this study was to evaluate the horizontal alveolar bone augmentation and its stability along time with a minimally invasive flapless technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four implants were inserted in 10 patients during a 15-month period. Clinical parameters such as horizontal bone augmentation, intrasurgical complications, patient morbidity, implant loss, and vertical bone loss (VBL) were recorded in the first 3 years after surgery. Using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), alveolar bone width was measured for both implants position and bone reconstructions. 6 months later, at the time of implant integration, a new low-dose CBCT was performed. Implant survival (IS) and VBL were evaluated radiographically for 3 years. RESULTS: The initial bone thickness measured on the ridge is between 0.82 mm and 5.40 mm (average 2.43 mm), after the split crest the bone width is between 4.65 mm and 8.09 mm (average 6.39 mm). This leads to an increase in the alveolar bone width of between 0.80 mm and 6.01 mm (average 3.71 mm) on the ridge. No implant was lost at 3 years, and all implants are stable at the end of the study. Three years after the surgery, controls showed a VBL of between 0.0 mm and 1.2 mm (average 0.63 mm) around the inserted implants. These parameters suggest using a flapless technique to reduce bone resorption around the implant neck. CONCLUSION: A minimally invasive approach allows to reduce the surgical trauma and postsurgical discomfort. The complete vascular supply is maintained, the bone resorption is reduced, and the connective epithelium does not undergo postsurgical retraction, achieving the full maintenance of the residual keratinized gingiva. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A technique such as split crest can be a valid option to avoid autologous or heterologous bone grafts.