Reconstruction of Severely Atrophic Mandible by Installing Dental Implants Using the Modified “Tent Pole” Technique: Case Report

Abstract

Patients who use full dental prostheses for long periods of time usually experience bone resorption in the alveolar process and in keratinized mucosa. This can cause instability, low prosthetic retention, and subsequent loss of function. Treating a patient with a severely atrophic mandible is quite challenging due to the low bone height and thickness, potentially impairing rehabilitation, aesthetics, and functional recovery. Several techniques are used to reconstruct major vertical defects for the installation of dental implants. Among these is the “tent pole” technique, which features low morbidity and generally produces good results in the form of increased height of the alveolar ridge bone. Herein we describes a patient with a severely atrophic mandible, reconstructed using a plate and dental implants. We employed a modified “tent pole” technique using an autogenous graft of the iliac crest and without use of platelet-rich plasma concentrate. Our results indicate that the modified tent pole technique using the iliac crest graft, and without use of platelet-rich plasma, is a safe and effective method for achieving mandibular reconstruction while restoring function, aesthetics, and the patients’ quality of life.