Tomographic evaluation of the maxilla after iliac bone grafting

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate by the means of computerized tomography (CT) the vertical and horizontal bone augmentation of the atrophic maxilla achieved with iliac crestal bone grafting

Methods: 14 patients - 10 women and 4 men, mean age 51.21 years of age, from Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil, with atrophic maxilla, who had been referred for bone augmentation using iliac bone grafting before placing dental implants participated in this study. All patients received full clinical examination and had a CT taken before the surgery. Linear vertical and horizontal measures were made in the areas corresponding to teeth 12,13,16,22,23 and 26, before and 6 months after the surgery. The differences in vertical and horizontal measurements were calculated and the mean bone gain or loss for each area was compared with the original measurements.

Results: The data were analyzed using paired Student t-test and a=0.05. The results showed significant vertical bone augmentation in the posterior regions, with a mean vertical bone gain of 8.57mm in the 16 region and 8.71mm in the 26 region, but not significant for the anterior region (p>0.05). Horizontal bone gain was statistically significant in all regions and mean bone gain was 5.52mm (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

In this study, bone augmentation of the atrophic maxilla with iliac crestal bone grafting resulted in sufficient vertical and horizontal bone augmentation making it possible to install 6-8 implants in all patients and successfully rehabilitate them.