Case Details
A female patient lacks the necessary bone thickness (alveolar ridge width) to support regular size dental implants. Therefore, a ridge splitting procedure (RSP) is performed so that 6 standard platform (regular size) endosteal or root-form implants could be placed and not resort to using narrow platform (narrow size) implants which has a lower survival rate when supporting a full-arch implant oral prosthesis. After the completion of the RSP, the bone is carefully expanded to allow for the placement of 6 dental implants followed by the suturing with tension-free primary wound closure of the area. As a result, an overall gain of approximately 4 mm of bone thickness is achieved from this procedure making the total overall thickness to be at roughly 9 mm.
Before
After
Description: A cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan is taken for the patient and with the aid of 3-D imaging software a treatment plan is devised where 6 regular size dental implants are preplanned for placement. In order for this to be possible, a bone augmentation procedure will be required (in this case, an RSP).
Before
After
Description: A uniform saw cut into bone is made of at least 10 mm in depth and is extended from one end to the opposite end of the upper or maxillary arch.
Before
After
Description: The bone is spread apart or expanded thus allowing for the placement of the implants.
Before
After
Description: Tension-free primary wound closure utilizing single interrupted sutures.
Before
After
Description: After healing has occurred, the implants are ready to be attached and loaded with a full-arch fixed screw-retained implant prosthesis.
