A Novel Approach for Horizontal Augmentation: A Split Box

A Novel Approach for Horizontal Augmentation With Split Box: A Method That Combines Split Bone Block and Ridge Split Techniques

The goal of this clinical study is to investigate the effectiveness of the split-box technique in systemically healthy, non-smoking, over 18 years of age, participants with narrow crests (<5mm bone width) and adequate bone height (>12mm). The main questions it aims to answer are:

• The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of the split-box technique by evaluating the change in width and height of the alveolar bone.
• The secondary objective is to evaluate the superiority of the split-box technique and its modifications in terms of the amount of bone gain.

According to the 3D topography of the alveolar ridge of the patients before augmentation, split box or one of its modifications, reverse split box or sliding split box techniques were selected and applied. (split box was applied if the bone thickness was more than 3 mm at the top of the crest and did not increase towards the lower border at the alveolar bone, reverse split box technique was applied if the bone thickness was more than 3 mm at the top of the crest and increased towards the lower border at the alveolar bone, sliding split box was applied if the bone thickness was less than 3 mm at the top of the crest but the bone thickness increases towards the lower border at the alveolar bone.)

Inclusion Criteria:

• To be older than 18 years of age
• To be systemically healthy
• To be non-smokers
• Having narrow crests (<5 mm bone width)
• Having adequate bone height (>12 mm)
• Having cone-beam computed tomography scans before surgery and five months after augmentation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having bone diseases,
• A history of neck or head radiotherapy
• Receiving steroids, bisphosphonates or chemotherapeutic drugs
• Being pregnancy
• Having narrow bone thickness in the crest (<3 mm), those in whom this thickness did not increase toward the lower border of the alveolar bone
• Patients with a history of infection or exposure after augmentation