Preprosthetic surgery for hydroxyapatite augmentation of the mandibular alveolar ridge

Abstract

The alveolar ridge forming operation on the edentulous case with the sub-periosteal tunnel process using hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a pre-prosthetic surgical treatment that can be adapted to the aged, is quite simple under local anesthesia, and has wide applications. HAP is also attracting clinical attention for its utility as a prosthetic and compensatory compound for osseus tissue, with excellent histoaffinity and osseus induction capability.
In the alveolar ridge forming operation on the edentulous case with the sub-periosteal tunnel process using HAP, the mucous membrane of the canine region is incised longitudinally under local anesthesia. Centering about the alveolar crest and up to front of the retromolar region, heperiosteum is elevated blindly, and HAP is injected in this region with an injection cylinder and the shape of the alveolar ridge is fixed with a plate splint and circumferential wiring of the mandible with the alveolar ridge forming operation, X-ray measurements showed that the height increased about 1.4 times in the anterior region and about 1.8 times in the molar region. There was a remarkable alveolar ridge lifting by the operation, with the buccal shelf extensively flattened to a form that is advantageous to improvements in maintenance and stability of dentures and support of masticatory pressure. A 20% enlargement of the denture-bearing area was observed after the operation.