Narrow Alveolar Ridge Management with Modified Ridge Splitting Technique: A Report of 3 Cases

PURPOSE: In this study, we report the usefulness of implant placement with modified ridge splitting technique from three cases of patients with narrow alveolar ridge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients were those who visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Ewha Medical Center for consultation regarding implant placement. Through clinical and radiographic evaluation, narrowed alveolar ridge after tooth loss was confirmed in all three patients. For them, it was necessary to use the modified ridge split technique with bone augmentation for the implant to be well placed with enough bone width. RESULTS: In all cases, sufficient bone width was confirmed for implant placement, and bone volume was well maintained after prosthetic restoration without any complications. Initial width of alveolar bone was 4.9 mm on average and was well maintained at an average of 7.6 mm at 1-year follow-up after implant installation. CONCLUSION: Although the number of subjects in this case report was small and was done by only one surgeon, we suggest that modified ridge splitting technique might be a useful surgical method to enhance narrow edentulous alveolar ridges and enable successful implant placement with shorter healing period compared with single guided bone regeneration.