Reconstruction of the edentulous mandible with a lower border graft and subperiosteal implant.

A technique is described that is designed to augment the severely atrophied edentulous mandible by the use of a bone or bone-hydroxylapatite filled mesh tray attached to the inferior border. This method permits the intraoral environment to remain unchanged, causing neither a decrease of intermaxillary distance nor placement of graft material on the ridge crest, which would offer a less stable and predictable base for acceptance of a subperiosteal implant. Lower facial length becomes augmented, inferior labial posture is improved, redundant cervical tissue is eliminated, and masticatory function is enhanced.