title: Evaluation of Vertical Bone Gain Following Alveolar Distraction Osteogenesis in the Anterior Edentulous Mandible: A Clinical Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To calculate the gain in bony height and volume of the distracted upper segment using an extraosseous unidirectional device to improve the retention of the future prosthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten cases with completely or partially edentulous but severely or considerably resorbed anterior mandibles were managed by vertical alveolar distraction osteogenesis. All the patients were evaluated preoperatively, intraoperatively and post-operatively for various parameters clinically and radiographically i.e. on OPG, lateral cephalogram and on CT scan, at different time intervals. In all cases there was increase in vertical bone height.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed mean vertical bone gain (VBG) on OPG as 8.2 mm. The mean VBG on lateral cephalogram was 8.1 mm. The mean VBG on CT scan at right canine was 8.35 mm, at left canine was 8.2 mm and at midline was 8.27 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alveolar distraction osteogenesis is a predictable method for restoring alveolar ridges prior to implant placement or prosthesis. Distraction osteogenesis is ideally suited for recreating missing tissue in the anterior esthetic zone by increasing vertical bone height as well as good width and soft tissue growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kamineni Institution of Dental Sciences, Narkatpalli, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: K A Jeevan
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kamineni Institution of Dental Sciences, Narkatpalli, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Aruna Kishore
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Masrom
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kamineni Institution of Dental Sciences, Narkatpalli, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Kapil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kamineni Institution of Dental Sciences, Narkatpalli, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kunusoth
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kamineni Institution of Dental Sciences, Narkatpalli, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Farzana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kamineni Institution of Dental Sciences, Narkatpalli, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Veerareddy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
keywords: Alveolar distraction osteogenesis; Alveolar ridge atrophy; Atrophic mandible; Vertical distraction osteogenesis