Published online Mar 6, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i5.971
Peer-review started: November 13, 2019
First decision: January 19, 2020
Revised: February 6, 2020
Accepted: February 12, 2020
Article in press: February 12, 2020
Published online: March 6, 2020
Severe horizontal bone deficiency of the maxillary anterior region is considered a major challenge in reconstruction and successful implant placement. Various approaches have been developed to augment bone volume. Of these approaches, onlay bone graft, alveolar bone splitting, and guided bone regeneration have been suggested.
A 22-year-old female patient, with no previous medical history, presented to the Department of Oral Implantology, Wuhan University due to a missing right maxillary incisor. The X-ray results showed severe horizontal bone deficiency, with an available bone width of 3.1-4.0 mm. The two bone blocks sandwich technique was performed to augment the bone volume. After 6 months healing, X-ray results showed that the newly formed alveolar ridge dimension increased to 4.7-9.5 mm horizontally. Implant insertion surgery was performed and all-ceramic restorations were fabricated. The implant was stable at the 1-year follow-up visit after restoration, and the X-ray showed a stable bone level around the dental implant. The scores for the pink esthetic score and white esthetic score were 12 and 8, respectively, and the patient was satisfied with the esthetic outcome.
The two bone blocks sandwich technique may be an alternative treatment option in augmenting severe horizontal bone deficiency of the anterior maxilla.
Core tip: The two bone blocks sandwich technique refers to two autogenous bone blocks harvested from alveolar bone in the maxillary anterior edentulous region, and includes one small bone block and one large bone block. The small bone block is harvested from the apical zone of the large bone block, and it is sandwiched between the large bone block and the palatal bone plate. This technique may be an alternative treatment option in augmenting severe horizontal bone deficiency of the anterior maxilla.