DELAYED EXPANSION OF ATROPHIC MANDIBLE (DEAM): A CASE REPORT

Purpose: The present case report presents the clinical results of delayed expansion of mandibles by ultrasonic surgery in case of mono edentulous. Materials and methods: The patients with a residual alveolar ridge thickness between 2,3 and 4,1 mm in the coronal area of posterior mandible was threated. In the first stage, four linear corticotomies were carried out by ultrasonic surgical device; bone expansion was not performed. After 4 weeks, in the second stage, adequate bone expansion, without compromising cortical vascularisation, by utilising a combination of scalpel, thin chisels and threaded osteotomes was achieved and one implant was placement, after filling the gaps with a cortico bovine biomaterial. Results: The postoperative course was uneventful and final width ridge was 6,17±0,26mm. Conclusions: The present case report showed that mandibular ridge expansion using a delayed split-crest technique by means of ultrasonic surgery and association with biomaterial clinically lead to a good horizontal bone gain with no fractures of the buccal plate and high implant success rate.