Sandwich osteotomy for vertical and transversal augmentation of the posterior mandible.

The aim of this study is to describe the treatment outcome after alveolar ridge augmentation in the atrophic posterior mandible by segmental sandwich osteotomy combined with an interpositional autograft prior to placement of endosseous implants. Thirteen consecutive patients (five males, mean age 48 years, and eight females, mean age 61 years) were included in this study. The postoperative course was uneventful in six patients. Sensory disturbances in the mental nerve were found in five patients, all of them with hypoaesthesia. None of these patients complained of permanent sensory disturbances. Vertical gain ranged from 2.0 to 7.8mm (mean value 4.61mm). Horizontal gain ranged from 2.0 to 6.3 (mean value 3.42mm). A total of 41 implants were placed in 22 surgical sites, 12 weeks after bone reconstruction. In conclusion, segmental mandibular sandwich osteotomy is recommended to meet the dimensional requirements of preimplant bone augmentation in atrophic posterior mandible.