Combined use of subperiosteal implant and bone-marrow graft in deficient edentulous mandibles: A preliminary report

This is a preliminary report regarding a technique combining a subperiosteal metal implant and a marrow-bone graft. The purpose of this procedure is to restore the mandibular bone, which covers and protects the exposed mandibular canal and nerve, and to augment this graft procedure by a metal implant. The metal implant acts as a tray or crib to hold the bone graft in position and to protect it during initial healing period. Following this period, the implant will then receive the major part of the occlusal forces and will transmit them directly to the bone rather than against the mucosa.

The implant posts are made so they can be removed to allow for the initial healing of the bone graft without communication with the oral cavity. Small screws are placed in position for about four weeks during healing to prevent bone from closing the screw holes.

The postoperative course was uneventful, and results from the standpoint of function and comfort (Fig. 19) are excellent. There is no evidence of pressure paresthesia which was previously present when the patient used a soft tissue-borne mandibular denture. The marrow-bone graft is remodeling excellently, and in many areas, bone completely covers the metal implant.

Clinical evaluations in three other patients as well as research on animals are currently being successfully conducted to investigate all aspects of this combination procedure. After 14 months, the initial clinical use of the technique has been most encouraging.

Full text link : https://www.thejpd.org/article/0022-3913(72)90312-5/abstract