Assessment of the Effect of Different Alveolar Ridge Augmentation Techniques on the Stability and Fit of Implant-supported Prostheses

Introduction: Augmentation of the alveolar ridge is one of the basic procedures in implant dentistry. It is essentially raising the ridge to accommodate dental implants. Ridge deficiency correction can be achieved using various methods, including guided bone regeneration (GBR), bone block grafting and synthetic/alloplastic grafting. This evaluates the effects of these procedures on the stability of implants, fit of prosthesis and volume of bone. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 individuals were enrolled in this prospective controlled study, and three augmentation techniques (GBR group, bone block group and synthetic graft group) were evaluated. Implant stability was evaluated by means of resonance frequency analysis, and bone volume and quality were radiographically assessed. Fit of the prosthesis was also assessed by clinical inspections and patients’ comments. One week, 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery, follow-ups were performed to monitor clinical and radiographic results. Results: The GBR group’s mean implant stability values surpassed all others. Moreover, they enjoyed the best-prosthesis fit, with 91% of participants indicating that the fit was ‘excellent.’ The GBR group also demonstrated significantly greater volumes and quality of bone, averaging 3.5 mm of bone height and 4.2 mm bone width gain. The bone block grafting and synthetic grafting groups demonstrated some moderate advancement in implant stability and bone volume, yet their outcomes were still below those of GBR. Conclusion: This study showed that GBR offers the highest benefit for alveolar ridge augmentation concerning implant stability, prosthesis adaptation and bone quality. The synthetic graft and bone block gave positive results.