Resorption of the alveolar ridge after uni- or pluridental losses appears as a normand not as an exception, when considering all morphological, functional and aesthetic modifications accompanying it. Repair of such disorders requires, in some cases, replacement of the lost teeth with endo-bone implants. When the width of the alveolar ridge is insufficient to support an implant, the defect should be completed with compatible materials.
The study discusses the alveolar reconstruction performed on 22 pacients with post-extractional bone atrophy in transversal direction, the alveolar deficit being completed with cortico-spongious and autogenic spongious graft, of enchondral or membranous origin, and also with deproteinized lyophillized bovine bone. When a correct techinque has been applied, the results obtained with the autogenic membranous graft were very good, while those with the autogenic enchondral graft were only good. Reconstruction with bio-bone was only 50% successful. 6 months after graft application, the resulting bony condensation was sufficient for assuring the stability, in time, of the applied implants. In the opinion of the authors, alveolar bone reconstruction is a surgical procedure sometimes necessary and possible, requiring, nevertheless, high competence and the most suitable technical means for such a difficult intervention.