Alveolar Ridge Split and Expansion Utilising a Piezo-surgical Approach for Implant Placement in Narrow Ridges

In clinical settings, it is common to encounter alveolar ridges that lack sufficient width, posing challenges for implant placement. To ensure a successful implant placement, the bone’s width must be at least 1.5 mm greater than the implant’s diameter on both the buccal and lingual/palatal sides. The alveolar ridge split technique has been developed as a solution for horizontal bone deficiencies, allowing for the expansion of the alveolar ridges. This article discusses a case where an implant was placed in a 35-year-old male patient who had a missing lower left first molar for 5 years. Due to the horizontal deficiency of the alveolar ridge, a ridge split and expansion procedure was executed using piezosurgery. After 6 months, a screw-retained prosthesis was successfully delivered.