title: Electrical mallet provides essential advantages in split-crest and immediate implant placement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this prospective study was to compare the use of a hand mallet versus an electrical mallet in osteotome-assisted surgery for split-crest procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Partially edentulous patients, with an alveolar ridge width inferior to the optimally desirable implant diameter, were selected for this study. Forty-six split-crest procedures were performed in 46 patients. They were randomly divided in two groups: in the control group, 23 patients, the split crest was performed with osteotomes using a handheld mallet, while in the test group, 23 patients, the split crest was prepared with osteotomes using an electrical mallet. Alveolar ridge width and incision dimensions were measured with a periodontal probe, before and after the split-crest procedure. One hundred eighty-one implants were immediately placed. Follow-up examinations were performed at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate, at 2-year follow-up, was 98.31%. Indeed, two implants placed in the maxilla failed to integrate at second-stage surgery. The initial width of the alveolar ridge varied from 2 to 3.5 mm; the average was 2.8 ± 0.7 mm. The final ridge width varied from 5 to 8 mm; the average was 7.2 ± 1.7 mm. The split length varied from 7 to 28 mm; the average was 17.5 ± 7.7 mm. No statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between test and control group in split length and alveolar width values before and after the split-crest procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a magnetic mallet provided some essential clinical advantages during crest splitting and immediate implant placement in comparison with a hand mallet.
authors: Department of Dentistry, Vita Salute University, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy, robcresp@libero.it.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Crespi
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Capparè
authors: Enrico Felice
authors: EF
authors: Gherlone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003762:Dental Instruments; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011446:Prospective Studies