Horizontally ridge reconstruction using titanium mesh with tenting screw vs autologous bone graft: a retrospective study

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the horizontal bone gain at the different level of alveolar bone using titanium screw as a reference plane by titanium mesh with tent screw (exposed or not) and autologous bone grafting. 16 patients and 23 measured points were enrolled in this study. CBCT data of immediately and 6 months after bone grafting were measured at crestal (CW), midway (MW), and basal (BW) level and reconstructed for area measurement. The exposure of Ti-mesh or not had been evaluated. The area of bone gained and absorption ratio were almost the same. The width absorption ratio of titanium mesh and onlay grafting group or at CW, MW, and BW were almost the same. However, the width absorption ratio of the exposed Ti-mesh at CW, MW, and BW were significantly higher than the not exposed one. Thin biotype was a main factor of titanium mesh exposure. The exposed Ti-mesh at late phase also can achieve clinically accepted bone gained after certain anti-inflammatory treatment. Ti-mesh with tenting screw could achieve the same bone augmentation effect as the autogenous bone block did, even it is exposed at late phase. However, the absorption ratio significantly increased if exposed.