title: Alveolar distraction osteogenesis for the correction of vertically deficient edentulous ridges: a multicenter prospective study on humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this prospective multicenter study were to evaluate the use of vertical distraction osteogenesis in the correction of vertically deficient alveolar ridges and to evaluate whether the vertical bone gained by distraction osteogenesis was maintained over time when dental implants were placed in the distracted areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven patients presenting vertically deficient edentulous ridges were treated in 4 different centers by means of distraction osteogenesis with an intraoral alveolar distractor. Two to 3 months after consolidation of the distracted segments, 138 dental implants were placed in the distracted areas. Four to 6 months later, abutments were connected and prosthetic loading of the implants began.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up after initial prosthetic loading was 34 months (range 15 to 55 months). The mean bone gain obtained by distraction was 9.9 mm (range 4 to 15 mm). The cumulative success rate of the implants 4 years after the onset of prosthetic loading was 94.2%, while the implants' cumulative survival rate was 100%. No statistically significant differences were found between the different centers as far as survival and success rates of implants were concerned.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study appear to demonstrate that distraction osteogenesis is a reliable technique for the correction of vertically deficient edentulous ridges. The regenerated bone appeared to withstand the functional demands of implant loading. The survival and success rates of the implants placed in the distracted areas were consistent with those reported in the literature regarding implants placed in native bone in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Oral Surgery Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Italy. matteo.chiapasco@unimi.it
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiapasco
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Consolo
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ronchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D014716:Vertical Dimension