An evaluation of vertical alveolar distraction and autogenous bone ridge augmentation for dental implants-A narrative review.

Atrophic edentulous ridge poses a great challenge for complete prosthetic rehabilitation. To restore the form and function, various maxillofacial techniques for ridge augmentation are performed. To elicit the positive outcome of surgical procedures, ridge augmentation with vertical distraction osteogenesis and autogenous bone grafting and to evaluate the long term complications, relapse and prosthetic rehabilitative procedural outcome. The electronic search was conducted to find studies from 2000 to 2023 about ridge augmentation procedures with vertical distraction osteogenesis as well as autogenous bone grafting. Screening and importing of the title and abstracts were conducted after which the full article was accessed if the literature met the inclusion criteria, followed by data extraction. Twenty articles were included for the qualitative analysis after the screening process. A mean length of 8.5 mm was achieved when using distraction osteogenesis for ridge augmentation and a mean length of 4.6 mm was achieved from using bone grafts for augmentation. Distraction osteogenesis has significant advantages over bone grafting when it comes to soft tissue involvement which makes it a preferable choice over augmentation with bone grafting. Augmentation of severely atrophied ridges through various surgical rehabilitative techniques is the key to restore the lost form and function. Bone grafts incorporated either in the form of autologous, allogenous, or play a pivotal role in the maintenance of bone density. A meticulous and proper patient planning with preoperative assessment had to be undertaken for the management of atrophied edentulous ridges with dental implants.