Combined use of bone graft and Biotes fixtures in the treatment of the severely resorbed upper jaws.

Horse-shoe shaped bone grafts from the hip together with biotes self-tapping fixtures were used to rehabilitate patients with extremely resorbed upper jaws. Our experience and results from the 10 first consecutive case have been analyzed to form the base for further use of the method. We have lost eight fixtures out of 57 so far. Surgical complications with exposure of the bone transplant have occurred in three patients. A surprisingly good recovery from the hip has been seen in all of the patients. Certain technical precautions such as construction of a splint in the dentulous or partially dentulous jaw to prevent occlusal trauma towards the transplant have been made to avoid complications such as rupture of the mucosal flap. The method should be used with great care and the case meticulously chosen to avoid individuals who do not have the right motivation for the long-lasting and demanding surgical and prosthetic procedures. The combined use of implants and transplants should not be used routinely until a long-term evaluation of the method has been made to minimize potential drawbacks.