1994 Volume 15 Issue 4 Pages 197-200
Localized abnormalities in the morphology of the alveolar ridge may arise from a cleft palate, advanced periodontal disease, trauma, and extractions associated with excessive force. As a result, the height and bucco-lingual width of the lost alveolar ridge may cause problems with establishment of the ideal relationship of the alveolar ridge and bridge pontic. Furthermore, loss of a portion of the alveolar ridge in the maxillary anterior region may cause problems not only with estetics, but also with hygiene and pronounciation. Therefore, various implansts and surgical graft procedures have been devised for such cases to restore the localized defect in the alveolar ridge to a more natural morphology.
Cohen described an alveolar ridge augmentation procedure for a localized defect that made use of hydroxyapatite (HA) . The method using subepithelial connective tissue graft reported by Langer and Calagna, and Garber and Rosenberg is very effective in correcting class I alveolar ridge defects. Abrams and Schart reported the rolling technique and the pedicle connective tissue graft that removed the epithelium.
This report discusses the surgery and postoperative course for three cases where alveolar ridde augmentation surgery was performed in a defect, the morphological abnormality in the alveolar ridge was restored, and the final prosthesis was compleated. HA was used in the first case to restore the alveolar ridge, a subepithelial connective tissue graft was employed for the second, and the rolling technique was used in the third case.
