Clinical study on horizontal bone augmentation using an alveolar mucosa-periosteal bone flap

The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the alveolar bone mucosa- periosteal bone flap technique in horizontally augmenting the alveolar ridge during dental implant placement. This retrospective analysis included 20 patients with a total of 45 implants, and was designed to evaluate the alveolar ridge widths both before and after surgery. Preoperative measurements indicated an average alveolar ridge width of 3.62 ± 0.90 mm, which increased to 6.58 ± 1.16 mm postoperatively. Statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in alveolar ridge width following the procedure (P < 0.05), with an average gain of 2.96 ± 1.21 mm. In summary, these findings suggest that the alveolar bone mucosa-periosteal bone flap technique is an effective approach for widening the alveolar ridge while placing dental implants, meriting its consideration for clinical application.