Postoperative Outcomes in the Surgical Rehabilitation of Alveolar Bone in Implant-Prosthetic Therapy: A Review

Abstract

Surgical rehabilitation of the muco-osseous support in edentulous patients with severe alveolar bone resorption is a challenging stage for the specialists in implant-prosthetics and oral surgery. Various biomaterials including autogenic, allogenic, xenografts, and synthetic biomaterials are considered on-the-board options for implant-prosthetic therapy. The selection of the bone graft must consider the systemic status, the osteogenic potential of the recipient site, and the available growth time of the new bone. A large range of alveolar bone reconstruction techniques is available to implantologist or oral surgeon: guided bone regeneration (GBR), vertical/horizontal augmentation by onlay blocks, distraction osteogenesis, alveolar ridge splitting techniques, bone expansion techniques) Various research groups reported the bone gain both in vertical and horizontal augmentation techniques by xenografts. Lateral bone augmentation techniques were recommended in post-extraction areas. The potential of the vertical augmentation procedures was highlighted but the long-term success depends on clinician’ experience level. Various factors that can influence the implant success/failure rate when implants were placed in alveolar bone areas after reconstruction by grafting materials. The main factor responsible for the absence of graft integration, its migration, and the absence of implant integration in the grafted area is represented by the poor execution of the surgical technique and graft migration because of poor vascularization in the grafted area.