Osteogenic alveolar distraction with simple appliance: Review of the topic apropos of a case

Abstract

In order to validate a simple appliance with distraction screws for the enlargement of the deficient alveolar crest by osteogenic distraction, a case is presented, the current medical literature available on this topic is reviewed and the historical evolution and physiological bases are described. The 56-year-old patient presents an alveolar mandibular atrophy with a height of 7 mm. An incision was made in the vestibule, followed by the detachment of the mucoperiosteal flap, the marking of the osteotomy and the placing of the distractor. After a previous period of latency that was observed during 7 days, the distractor was activated 1.0 mm a day during the period of distraction, until attaining a height increase of 8 mm. Once the distraction was finished, the appliance was maintained during 8 weeks till the fracture callus was consolidated. Later on, the distractor was removed and the implants were placed 10 weeks after ending the activation. The intraoral distraction appliance under study is a novel technique, and the resutls attained are still variable, but in this case it proved to be efficient and reliable to achieve a certain volume of bone mass in a position predetermined to insert osteointegrated implants and to obtain a correct prosthetic rehabilitation.