title: Ridge augmentation with mineralized block allografts:  clinical and histological evaluation of 8 cases treated with the 3-dimensional block technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bone augmentation is frequently used to create sufficient bone volume for ideal implant placement. Severely resorbed ridges require extensive bone augmentation in the form of block allografts. A 3-dimensional graft technique has been developed to augment atrophic areas. This technique involves modifying the graft on a sterile prototype of the recipient site before the surgery. This article investigates the clinical and histological outcomes of ridge augmentation using this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight partially edentulous patients were recruited. Ridge augmentations were performed using block allografts, preadjusted, based on sterile prototypes of the recipient bed before the surgeries. After 8 months, 20 implants were inserted into the grafted sites. Eight bone cores were harvested for histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highly vital and mineralized bone with lamellar organization was observed at the grafted sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having the ability to modify the allogeneic block grafts to fit the recipient sites before the surgery minimized the surgical time and risk of postoperative complications such as infection. In addition, the clinician could concentrate fully on achieving tension-free primary wound closure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacotti
authors.forename: Hom-Lay
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernardello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000601:surgery; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000473:pathology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000601:surgery; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D008567:Membranes, Artificial