Abstract

Alveolar ridge atrophy can be acquired or congenital. Alveolar ridge augmentation can be performed using bone grafting but a donor site morbidity is unavoidable and some resorption of the grafted bone occurs. Distraction osteogenesis offers an alternative method for bone reconstruction without donor site morbidity and sufficient stability of the final results. In order to place implants, vertical alveolar augmentation using Distraction Osteogenesis has been applied to 14 patients aged 17 to 55 years old with edentulous alveolar ridge, 8 in the mandible and 6 in the maxilla. Vertical alveolar bone distraction was started by performing a segmental alveolar osteotomy followed by insertion of a central distraction device--Lead System (Endosseous alveolar distraction system, Leibinger). After three days of latency period, the distraction was started in a rate of 0.8 mm per day for 9 to 16 days as needed. The retention period for the new bone maturation was twice as long as the active distraction period. After removal of the device, 23 cylindrical threaded implants were inserted. The results revealed increase of the alveolar bone height with new bone formation that was observed radiographically and clinically at the removal of the distraction device. The amount of elevation was 7-13 mm. In follow-up of 6-14 months, failure of only one implant was noted, due to inadequate transported bone stability. The advantages of alveolar bone distraction are: Increase of the alveolar bone height with new bone formation, minimal resorption of bone without the bone graft disadvantages. A long term follow up after the bone height achieved and implant anchorage should be performed in the future.