Are all alveolar bone reconstruction methods created equal?

Endosseous implants fare equally well after either distraction osteogenesis or autogenous bone grafting, according to a new report published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Oral Implantology.

Following alveolar reconstruction, endosseous implants support and retain the prosthesis. Therefore, it is important for the method of alveolar reconstruction to be highly compatible with the subsequent implantation. The authors conducted a retrospective analysis to determine whether distraction osteogenesis or autogenous bone grafting offers a greater chance of clinical success.

The authors included 82 consecutive patients from the patient population of Loma Linda University in a retrospective analysis of the two alveolar reconstruction techniques and the subsequent endosseous implantation. All patients had been evaluated for implant success in a 36- to 61-month follow-up. Implants preceded by autogenous bone grafts had a success rate of 97%, and those preceded by distraction osteogenesis had a success rate of 98%. There was no statistical difference between the two methods.

To read the entire article, “Implant Success in Distracted Bone Versus Autogenous Bone-Grafted Sites,” published in the Journal of Oral Implantology, click here.

The Journal of Oral Implantology is the official publication of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and of the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics. It is dedicated to providing valuable information to general dentists, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, periodontists, scientists, clinicians, laboratory owners and technicians, manufacturers, and educators. The JOI distinguishes itself as the first and oldest journal in the world devoted exclusively to implant dentistry. To learn more about the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, visit http://www.aaid-implant.org/index.html.