To
address the problem of insufficient bone mass in the implant
area, we focused on the vertical increment of the posterior mandibular
area to increase bone mass with the aid of a healing abutment. Data
of patients with insufficient vertical bone height in the posterior
mandibular area were collected, and vertical increment of alveolar
bone operations was performed with the aid of a healing abutment.
Preoperative residual alveolar bone height, immediate postoperative
alveolar bone height, and 6-month postoperative alveolar bone height
were recorded, with peri-implant soft tissue results 6 months after
surgery using the modified plaque index and sulcus bleeding index.
Twelve patients, aged 42–73 years, with an average age of 55.91
± 11.58 years, received vertical bone augmentation in the posterior
mandibular region supported by implant healing abutments. Fifteen
SLA TSIII OSSTEM implants were utilized in the 12 patients; one patient
failed in vertical bone augmentation at one site (H0 = 0 mm). The
vertical bone augmentation effect of two patients at two sites was
0 mm < H0 < 1 mm, and the vertical bone augmentation effect
of 12 sites in nine patients was H0 ≥ 1 mm. The implant success
rate was 93.3%, and the mean vertical bone gain was 2.91 mm. Peri-implant
soft tissue parameters are as follows: mean modified plaque index,
1.92; mean modified sulcus bleeding index, 1.21; and mean probing
depth, 3.18. No clinically observable complications occurred. Bone
augmentation supported by the implant healing abutment showed the
characteristics of “platform transfer”, with good formation
of the implant–bone interface. The bone augmentation surgery
was completed at the same time as the implant placement, which reduced
the pain of multiple operations and shortened waiting times. We provide
a novel idea to solve the problem of insufficient vertical bone height
in the posterior mandibular region.