Abstract
It has been reported that no less than 1 mm crest bone width around implants, on buccal and lingual sides, is indispensable for success in osseointegrated implants. However, dentists are often confronted with clinical cases where there is a narrow alveolar crest bone.
In such cases, the split crest technique, in which the alveolar crest bone is intentionally split into the buccal and lingual side to expand the ridge, is used and implants are simultaneously inserted. It is considered that this technique can increase the indication of implants and shorten the treatment period.
A clinical evaluation of 17 cases (including 28 implants) involving the split crest technique was done. Periodontal evaluations were done using the probing depth, the attachment gingiva width, the periotron test value, the mobility of implants by perio test, the bone width by bone-mapping, and the bone level surrounding implants by radiography.
Favorable results were obtained in all of these evaluations; therefore, it was concluded that the split crest technique is an effective method with wider applicability than conventional methods.
