Report of 302 Consecutive Ridge Augmentation Procedures: Technical Considerations and Clinical Results

Three hundred two consecutive ridge augmentation procedures (289 in a buccolingual and 13 in an apico-occlusal direction) were performed in 284 patients. Gore-Tex membranes of various configurations were used in conjunction with various nonautogenous particulate materials. Two hundred ninety-one of the augmented ridges (279 buccolingual and 12 apico-occlusal augmentations) demonstrated sufficient regenerated hard tissues for implant placement in ideal prosthetic positions. This represents an overall success rate of 96%, 97% for horizontally augmented ridges and 92% for vertically augmented ridges. A total of 574 implants were placed in the augmented ridges; 346 of these implants have subsequently been uncovered and restored. Seven implants failed to achieve osseointegration, and three implants (in one patient) were lost in function, for an overall survival rate of 97% for the uncovered implants. Keywords: Gore-Tex membranes, osseointegration, ridge augmentation, survival rate