Subcortical bone grafting for ridge augmentation.

A surgical technique for augmentation of the alveolar ridge, involving horizontal osteotomy in the anterior part of the mandible with insertion of an autogenous bone graft, was studied in monkeys. The technique of closure results in an immediate vestibuloplasty. Results of the study showed a significant improvement in alveolar ridge height with minimal resorptive changes during the experimental period of 50 weeks. The effect of stress on the graft site was not evaluated. However, it is hypothesized that this technique would result in less resorptive changes than in onlay bone grafts because of the subcortical placement of the autogenous bone.