Preprosthetic alveolar ridge correction using glutaraldehyde cross-linked, lyophilized scleral allografts.

Following the loss of a maxillary anterior tooth, there is often a change in the topography of the residual alveolar ridge, resulting in a ridge defect that requires surgical correction by the dentist before the placement of a fixed prosthesis. The present study utilized glutaraldehyde cross-linked, lyophilized human sclera as an allograft material to correct such ridge defects. The cases treated with this allograft were followed postoperatively for 3 months and were objectively assessed by digitization of sectioned sequential stone casts. The results showed statistically significant improvement at the grafted sites with no shrinkage at 3 months and verified that glutaraldehyde cross-linked, freeze-dried human sclera is useful in localized ridge augmentation procedures.