Use of reciprocating saw for alveolar ridge reduction in the anterior mandible for immediate load implant-supported hybrid dentures.

PURPOSE: Alveolar ridge reduction, which is needed to create sufficient room for abutments, metal framework, and acrylic teeth, and a flat bone platform using commonly used burs is a time-consuming procedure and may cause discomfort to the patient. The aim of this study was to describe an alternative technique to fabricate a mandibular hybrid denture in 4 days without making any final impression and to describe the use of a reciprocating saw for alveolar ridge reduction.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients aged 45 to 75 years were considered for this study. Each patient received 5 implants for the reconstruction of the edentulous mandible after alveolar ridge reduction using a reciprocating saw or burs after the extraction of infected teeth. These implants were placed in the anterior region of the edentulous mandible and restored with final mandibular hybrid prosthesis in 4 days using the Ohio State University acrylic frame requiring no final impression procedure.

RESULTS: No implants were lost, no technical complications were observed, and only minor marginal bone loss was noted after a year. The overall alveolar ridge reduction using a reciprocating saw after extraction of teeth took fewer than 2 minutes in the 5 patients, whereas a similar reduction took 34 +/- 12 minutes (20 to 50) with commonly used burs (round, fissure, or acrylic) in the other 5 patients.

CONCLUSION: This study indicates that use of a reciprocating saw is a rapid and efficient method for alveolar ridge reduction in the anterior mandible, and the Ohio State University acrylic frame may be an alternative method to restore any edentulous mandible with an immediate-load mandibular hybrid denture.