Efficacy of Ridge Augmentation with or without Ultrasonic Splitting in Pre-Implant Preparation of Narrow Alveolar Ridges Clinical, Radiographic and Histomorphologic study

Aim: This study was carried out to compare clinically, radiographically andhistomorphologically between narrow alveolar ridge augmentation using allogenicbone block versus ultrasonic ridge splitting technique combined with bone chips.Subjects and methods: Twenty patients were devieded randomaly into two equalgroups, by using a flip of coin as the following; Group 1: 10 Patients with narrowmandibular alveolar ridge received allogenic bone block then after 6 month Implantswere placed. Group 2: 10 Patients with narrow mandibular alveolar ridge receivedpiezo splitting technique and allogenic bone chips then after 6-month implants wereplaced. Clinical and radiographic parameters were gathered at baseline and 6 monthsafter ridge augmentation. Results: There were statistically significant differencesbetween Group I & Group II at 6,9 months regarding alveolar ridge width, peri-implantprobing depth (PPD), implant stability quotient (ISQ), Changes in marginal bone loss(MBL)and bone density measurements (BD) And vice versa, no statistically significantdifferences at 6, 9 months in modified plaque index (mPI) and modified sulcus bleedingindex (mSBI). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study can conclude that, bothtechniques exhibited successful treatment outcomes in narrow alveolar ridge, ridgesplitting technique seems to be a very effective modality for implant placement innarrow alveolar ridge, that this technique is a safe and predictable in thin ridge cases,finally the use of corticocancellous block allografts had given promising results, thusallowing the placement of implants of standard length and diameter, thereby improvingthe long-term prognosis of the implant-supported reconstruction.