The influence of self-inflating soft tissue expander on the outcomes of horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation: A randomized controlled clinical and histological study.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of soft tissue augmentation using a self-inflating soft tissue expander when performed before horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation on the outcomes of the bone augmentation procedure. The primary outcome is the bucco-palatal radiographical changes in alveolar ridge width, while the secondary outcome is the quality of the augmented bone assessed histomorphometrically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients underwent horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation using autogenous bone. For the test group, soft tissue expanders were used in a separate surgery before bone grafting surgery. For the control group, patients received treatment including single surgery of bone grafting associated with periosteal releasing incision. Implants were placed in both groups 6 months after bone augmentation. Bucco-palatal changes in alveolar ridge width were evaluated via cone-beam computed tomography. Augmented bone quality was assessed histomorphometrically. RESULTS: After 6 months, regarding radiographic bone width, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups, as mean bone width in group I and group II were 8.57 mm and 8.75 mm, respectively. Regarding histomorphometric analysis, Group I showed significantly higher mean bone surface area fraction, higher median mature collagen area fraction, and higher median blood vessel count than Group II (p-value = .012), (p-value = .004), and (p-value = .014), respectively. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the present study, soft tissue expander has no influence on bone width gain after horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation with an autogenous bone block but may have a positive effect on the quality of augmented bone.