Horizontal Augmentation Through the Ridge-Split Procedure: A Predictable Surgical Modality in Implant Reconstruction

Continuing Education Credits:
1 CEU (Continuing Education Credit)

Course Presenter(s):
Len Tolstunov, DDS, DMD


Date Added:
04/18/2017

Course Description:

The need for an adequate alveolar ridge width has been a long-standing principle in pre-prosthetic surgery. Since the introduction of root-form endosseous dental implants, the necessity of proper alveolar ridge width has become essential. Many surgical pre-implant bone augmentation techniques with the goal of reconstructing deficient alveolar width, height, or both have been proposed. A variety of alveolar ridge augmentation techniques for treatment of 2-D and 3-D bone deficiencies have been described and include guided bone regeneration (GBR) with a cancellous graft, onlay/veneer block graft, inlay grafting, ridge-split, vertical and horizontal distraction osteogenesis, and others. In this presentation, the author concentrated on the ridge-split procedure (RSP) as a form of a ridge modification (widening or augmentation), the technique that offers many possibilities and has many advantages in oral pre-prosthetic implant reconstruction. There are many modifications of the RSP. This presentation is a description of classical ridge-split procedure in maxilla and mandible that has been successfully employed for many years in author’s surgical practice.

Learning Objectives:

• A. To understand the different available options for the surgical management horizontal ridge deficiencies
• B. The role of RSP Ridge Split Procedure on the management of horizontal ridge deficiencies
• C. To apply the armamentarium and surgical concepts to achieve superior results with ridge splitting.