A Two-step Method for the Preparation of Implant Recipient Site in Severe Atrophic Maxilla: A Case Report of the Alveolar Ridge Split Technique Followed by Bone Expansion

Augmentation of deficient and atrophic alveolar ridges is an important aspect of dental implant therapy with the goal of providing a functional restoration in harmony with adjacent natural dentition. Bone splitting technique is considered a distinguished augmentation method for treatment of deficient alveolar ridges. According to this procedure, the compromised alveolar ridge is opened from the crest of the ridge and subsequently split with special chisel instruments. In this report, we described a case of horizontal ridge augmentation of an atrophic anterior maxillary ridge using ridge split in the first step and ridge expansion concomitant with implant placement in the second stage after 6 months. A two-step method of alveolar ridge split using piezosurgery followed by bone expansion is a reliable and successful treatment plan for implant recipient site rehabilitation in severe atrophic maxilla (less than 3 mm).