title: Titanium Mesh Technique in Rehabilitation of Totally Edentulous Atrophic Maxillae: A Retrospective Case Series.
abstract: This study evaluates implant-borne prosthetic rehabilitation of 10 totally edentulous atrophic maxillae after bone reconstruction with a titanium-mesh technique and particulate bone graft.
  
  
  
  Ten atrophic maxillae were reconstructed with 19 titanium meshes and particulate autologous-heterologous bone. Maxillae were rehabilitated at least 5 months, with placement of 67 implants connected to the prostheses after an additional 4 months of rehabilitation. Cases were evaluated retrospectively in terms of complication rates, particularly on the amount of mesh exposure, implant survival, and success rates at the end of follow-up.
  
  
  
  In seven cases, two meshes were prematurely exposed (within 4 to 6 weeks), and five were exposed later (after 4 to 6 weeks). Only two of the later exposures extended >1 cm(2). Nevertheless, reconstructions allowed implant placement and prosthetic rehabilitation in all cases. Two implants were lost before loading. After mean follow-up at 39.3 (20 to 56) months since prosthetic loading, all 65 implants were functional (100% implant survival), but 15 implants demonstrated a peri-implant mean bone resorption of 2.96 mm increased bone loss, yielding a cumulative implant success rate of 76.9%. No prosthetic problem was observed.
  
  
  
  Use of titanium mesh with particulate bone can be considered a valid option in reconstructing atrophic maxillae to allow for implant-borne prosthetic rehabilitation. A high level of dehiscence did not compromise final outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Neuromotor Sciences, Dental Clinic, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Neuromotor Sciences, Dental Clinic, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lizio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Neuromotor Sciences, Dental Clinic, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corinaldesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Neuromotor Sciences, Dental Clinic, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
mesh_terms: D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous; D008437:Maxilla; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Atrophy; dental implants; edentulous, jaw; surgical mesh