AUGMENTATION OF THE ATROPHIC MAXILLARY ALVEOLAR RIDGE WITH HYDROXYAPATITE GRANULES IN A VICRYL (POLYGLACTIN-910) KNITTED TUBE AND SIMULTANEOUS OPEN VESTIBULOPLASTY
Aw. Sugar et al., AUGMENTATION OF THE ATROPHIC MAXILLARY ALVEOLAR RIDGE WITH HYDROXYAPATITE GRANULES IN A VICRYL (POLYGLACTIN-910) KNITTED TUBE AND SIMULTANEOUS OPEN VESTIBULOPLASTY, British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery, 33(2), 1995, pp. 93-97
A modified technique for augmentation of the severely atrophic edentul
ous maxillary alveolar ridge is described. The augmentation was carrie
d out using a knitted polyglactin 910 mesh tube filled with porous hyd
roxyapatite granules, the tube being inserted through the access achie
ved by an open vestibuloplasty. The results of an in-vivo animal study
showed that the absorption of the mesh was complete between 49 and 70
days. The clinical study included 11 patients in all of whom there wa
s severe maxillary ridge atrophy and major prosthetic problems; follow
-up was for a mean of 25 months. The procedure was without significant
complication and produced a mean immediate absolute augmentation of 5
.5 mm and substantially increased vestibular depth. A gradual reductio
n of ridge height was found over time. Nevertheless all patients showe
d significantly increased ability to wear their dentures. The techniqu
e is presented as a safe and predictable alternative to the use of bon
e grafts and titanium implants in these severely atrophic cases.