Introduction

One of the key obstacle to a successful implant placement is insufficient alveolar ridge width.

Therefore, optimal volume and quality of both hard and soft tissues must be present to meet the ideal goals of implant dentistry.^[1] After tooth extraction or trauma, the labial cortical plates in the aesthetic anterior regions are often thinner than the lingual plate and are the first to be lost or resorbed. Following natural tooth loss, the labial alveolar bone frequently regenerates quickly. During the first year, there is a 25% decrease in volume, and during the next three years, there is a 40–60% decrease in breadth. This causes the labial cortex of the bone to shift medially relative to its initial position.^[2] To create a functional restoration that blends well with the surrounding natural dentition, augmenting inadequate alveolar ridges is therefore a crucial component of dental implant therapy.

Ridge deficits might be vertical, horizontal, or a combination of the two. Alveolar ridge splitting or extension, distraction osteogenensis, autogenous or allograft block graft, and guided bone regeneration can all be used alone or in combination to predictably increase the amount of ridge in locations of the alveolar ridge that are insufficient.^[3] In order to augment the horizontal ridge while preserving the periosteal connection, the ridge split or ridge expansion technique was first presented in the early 1970s. It involved meticulously enlarging the cortical plates.

Ridge splitting techniques are used for the narrow edentulous ridge for implant placement with predictable outcome in maxilla than in mandible.^[4] In this case report, we describe a case of horizontal ridge augmentation using ridge split and implant placement in esthetic maxillary central incisor area.

Case Report

A 16 years old female reported to the outpatient department with the chief complaint of missing upper left teeth for last 1 year due to tooth avulsion caused by trauma. On intraoral examination, ridge deficiency was noticed. The patient was well built with no medical history. Preoperative measures included a standard orthopantamogram, oral prophylaxis, and routine blood test. A thorough case history was also taken. Ridge split procedure was planned in order to achieve adequate ridge width to facilitate implant placement. The treatment plan was explained to the patient, and written consent was obtained.

Discussion

Bucco-palatal bone is frequently only 4-6 mm broad at the crest with or without a "hourglass" facial deformity, so augmenting inadequate alveolar ridges is necessary in the implant treatment plan to lessen stress at the crestal bone region.^[3], ^[5] Therefore, ridge restoration before to implant insertion is often necessary for a better knowledge of the biomechanical requirements for long-term prosthesis life.

A minimum of 6 mm of ridge width is required for a favourable result, meaning that the implant must have at least 1 to 1.5 mm of bone surrounding it.^[6] Dr. Hilt Tatum 1970s introduced a method of ridge splitting or bone spreading using specific instruments like D-shaped graduated osteotomes/wedges and tapered channel formers. He inserted >5000 maxillary anterior implants using ridge splitting before 1985 wherein, he expanded atrophic ridges >3 mm for simultaneous implant placement and augmentation keeping the periosteum intact.^[7] The ridge's viscoelastic nature increases and its elastic modulus decreases with the quality of the trabacular bone. Consequently, bone expansion is easier and more predictable the less dense the bone.^[8], ^[9] Bone expansion gives the area a more typical facial contour. The palatal and facial plates are not affected by bone splitting in the same way because the palatal bone is bigger and more difficult to work with. As a result, the expansion process mostly affects the thinner facial plate. With a surgical mallet, controlled sequential gentle tapping (about 1 mm for each tap) is utilised to gradually expand the osteotomy once the bone is prepared 2–4 mm deeper than the eventual implant length.

The bone spreading osteotome is unscrewed with a mild axial tensile force after being rotated in the socket. The clinician determines whether to choose an implant with a 3.5 or 4 mm diameter based on the osteotome's 3 mm diameter and the amount of bone present in the facial area. A larger osteotome is inserted 0.5 mm shorter than the previous instrument after the initial length of the osteotome, which is 3 mm deeper than the intended implant length. This causes the base of the bone to extend in a V form rather than a U shape. The labial tissue should be felt while preparation of the site with osteotome and during implant insertion.^[7], ^[8] A physio-dispenser hand piece with high torque and moderate speed is used to thread the final implant into place. In order to reduce the danger of crestal bone loss and promote bone remodelling, bone grafts can be positioned in the area between the implant and the bone as well as at the crestal region using membrane.^[10]

Conclusion

There are various techniques for ridge augmentation of alveolar ridges that are inadequate for implant insertion; in situations where ridge width is greater than 3.5 mm, ridge splitting or spreading is recommended. The main criteria for success of ridge split cases is patient selection and bone evaluation. While this surgical method can be used to either jaw, it is most appropriate for the maxilla. Augmenting inadequate alveolar ridges is therefore a crucial part of dental implant therapy in order to meet the ideal goals of implant dentistry, with the ultimate goal being the provision of a functional restoration that blends in harmoniously with the surrounding natural teeth, as demonstrated in the case report.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.