title: Clinical results of localized alveolar ridge augmentation with bone grafts harvested from symphysis in comparison with ramus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autogenous onlay bone grafting is a common procedure for alveolar ridge augmentation. It has been suggested that the amount of healed bone after this technique would be significantly less than the initial quantity. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the various parameters influencing the outcome of ridge augmentation procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients, 17 males and 15 females (mean age 40 ± 8.66), requiring lateral ridge augmentation in the anterior maxilla were recruited. Bone grafts obtained from either the mandibular ramus or symphysis were grafted on the recipient site and the buccolingual dimensions of the edentulous ridge before and six months after the procedure were measured and the difference between them was considered as ridge augmentation (RA). Parameters including graft thickness (GT), graft area (GA) and donor site (DS) were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Onlay bone grafts, taken from mandibular and symphysis areas, significantly increased the buccolingual dimension of the alveolar ridge (mean 1.98 ± 1.22 mm, p< 0.001). However, the mean RA by symphysis grafts was significantly greater than ramus grafts (2.49 mm vs. 1.48 mm). There was also a significant correlation between graft thickness, surface area and the amount of bone augmentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symphysis area provides thicker and larger grafts, which may result in a better clinical outcome in alveolar ridge augmentation.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences,Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pourabbas
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nezafati
keywords: Autogenous bone graft; guided bone regeneration; onlay bone graft; ridge augmentation