Article:

A long standing challenge to the restorative dentist is single tooth replacement in an atrophic ridge crest. The loss of bone volume after tooth loss has received considerable attention in the literature. Different rates and patterns of alveolar loss have been observed, depending on where and how the tooth was lost. A 25% decrease in facial palatal width occurs in the first 12 months, and can be as great as 40% within 3 years. This article will present a predictable method for replacing the lost one prior to implant placement through the ramus block graft technique.