Ridge Splitting With Simultaneous Implant Insertion Using Piezosurgery

Ridge resorption after long standing period following teeth extraction is commonly severe and progressive leading to various extents of bony defects especially in the horizontal direction ending with a narrow alveolus. Consequently, the placement of endosseous dental implants will be limited in such areas as there is a great loss of bone width. Ridge augmentation by grafting procedures can considerably increase the treatment time, patient morbidity and cost in addition to the high possibility of graft failure. Alternatively, many different techniques have been introduced for correction of the deficient ridge width through ridge splitting and expansion. However, conventional procedures are usually associated with many limitations and complications. This necessitates the use of different techniques in order to overcome these problems and to facilitate the surgical procedure. Among these procedures, the piezosurgical ridge splitting technique has been developed. The present study evaluates a new treatment protocol with piezosurgery for implant placement in patients having narrow bony ridges.