Alveolar ridge splitting for implant placement: a review of the procedure and report of 3 cases.

In long-standing edentulous cases, the alveolar bone generally demonstrates vertical and horizontal atrophy. Rehabilitating these patients with dental implants is difficult unless treatment is accompanied by some kind of augmentation procedures, all of which include specific disadvantages. One such technique, alveolar ridge splitting, is suitable only for enhancing ridge width. It has the advantage of reducing treatment time significantly, as implants can be placed simultaneously. This article offers a brief description of the procedure along with 3 case reports.