Purpose: An adequate bone volume for complete circumferential coverage of the implants is very important for obtaining a long-term success of oral implants. To avoid these problems various membranes and biomaterials were used, but soft tissue pressure could cause a membrane collapse toward the defect. The present work describes a ridge augmentation with titanium mesh shaped by adapting it to a bone defect in aesthetic areas.
Materials and methods: Three patients with alveolar crest defects received three implants (Bone System, Milano, Italy) and the defects were filled with bone chips. The defects were covered with a titanium micromesh above which was positioned a resorbable membrane (Biogide, Geistlich, Wohlhusen, Switzerland).
Results: At the re-entry procedure the titanium micromesh appeared to be surrounded by a dense connective tissue with no clinical signs of inflammation. Clinically in all patients, no residual bone defects were observed, and a significant increase of the alveolar width or height was found.
Conclusions: In conclusion the clinical results of the present study show that most certainly the space for the bone regeneration is one of the most critical factors in the success of the regenerative techniques.
Keywords: bone; graft; mesh; regeneration; titanium.