Freeze-dried Bone Allograft vs Autologous Bone Blocks in the Lateral Augmentation of the Jaws

Comparison of Freeze-dried Bone Allograft and Autogenous Bone Blocks in the Surgical Reconstruction of Horizontally Atrophied Jaws for Implant Placement: Randomized Clinical Trial

After tooth loss, the alveolar ridge undergoes various modeling and remodeling processes, resulting in overall bone resorption. In case of extensive alveolar atrophy, bone volume must be restored before or during implant placement to achieve successful dental rehabilitation and maximize implant survival and success rates. One possible method for reconstructing severe bone resorption is block bone augmentation.

Due to its biological properties, autologous bone is considered the "gold standard" among bone graft materials, as it possesses osteoinductive, osteoconductive, and osteogenic properties.

The advantages of using allografts over autologous bone grafts include reduced postoperative morbidity, decreased surgical time, and the absence of anatomical limitations regarding the amount of bone that can be harvested. The disadvantage of allografts is the loss of viable osteogenic cells and osteoinductive factors during processing.

The aim of the study is:

• to compare the success of the bone augmentation surgery depending on whether freeze-dried bone allograft blocks or autologous bone blocks are used,
• compare the microarchitecture of the augmented bone depending on the bone graft material applied,
• to evaluate the success of dental implants placed in the augmented bone and that of the prostheses delivered on the dental implants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• over 18 years old
• require lateral augmentation for implant rehabilitation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking
• Pregnancy
• Poor oral hygiene
• Failure to attend follow-up visits
• Therapeutic-dose irradiation to the head and neck region
• Local bone tumors, cysts, or inflammatory processes
• Decompensated systemic diseases contraindicate surgery
• Use of medications affecting bone metabolism (steroids, antiresorptive medications such as bisphosphonates, RANKL inhibitor antibodies, VEGF antagonists)
• Psychiatric disorders contraindicate implant rehabilitation