ALVEOLAR RIDGE SPLIT FOR FULL-ARCH MAXILLA

NCT07846475 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024/29
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 47
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This retrospective study evaluated the use of the alveolar ridge split (ARS) technique in patients with a completely edentulous upper jaw who received implant-supported fixed prostheses. The ARS technique is used when the jawbone is too narrow to allow conventional implant placement. In this study, patients with insufficient maxillary ridge width underwent one-stage ARS with simultaneous implant placement, while patients with adequate ridge width received conventional implant placement without ridge splitting. The study compared the two treatment approaches in terms of implant survival, marginal bone loss around the implants, and implant success, including biological and prosthetic complications. A total of 47 patients with 332 dental implants were evaluated. The overall implant survival rate was 99.2%, and no significant difference was observed between the ARS and conventional implant groups. Marginal bone loss and implant success rates were also similar between the groups. The findings suggest that the alveolar ridge split technique may be a suitable option for implant-supported full-arch rehabilitation in carefully selected patients with a completely edentulous maxilla and insufficient alveolar ridge width.

Conditions

Completely Edentulous Maxilla; Horizontal Alveolar Ridge Deficiency

Keywords

Alveolar Ridge Split; Dental Implants; Completely Edentulous Maxilla; Narrow Alveolar Ridge; Full-Arch Rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Implant Survival

  Implant survival was defined as the presence of the dental implant in the mouth during the follow-up period. Implant failure was recorded when an implant had been removed or lost. Implant survival was assessed using clinical follow-up records and was compared between the ARS and Non-ARS groups.

  From implant placement to the last available follow-up, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Marginal Bone Loss

  From implant placement to the last available radiographic follow-up, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.

• Implant Success

  From implant placement to the last available clinical follow-up, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months.

Study Arms (2)

Group/Cohort 1

Group Description: Patients with completely edentulous maxillae and insufficient horizontal alveolar ridge width (\<5 mm) who underwent one-stage alveolar ridge split (ARS) with simultaneous dental implant placement, followed by implant-supported fixed prosthetic rehabilitation. Intervention/Exposure: Alveolar Ridge Split Technique Intervention Description: One-stage alveolar ridge splitting was performed to increase the horizontal width of the maxillary alveolar ridge, followed by simultaneous placement of dental implants.

Procedure: Conventional Dental Implant Placement

Group/Cohort 2

Group Title: Non-ARS Group Group Description: Patients with completely edentulous maxillae and sufficient horizontal alveolar ridge width (≥5 mm) who underwent conventional dental implant placement without alveolar ridge splitting, followed by implant-supported fixed prosthetic rehabilitation. Intervention/Exposure: Conventional Dental Implant Placement Intervention Description: Dental implants were placed using conventional surgical procedures without an alveolar ridge split procedure because the available maxillary ridge width was sufficient for implant placement.

Procedure: Conventional Dental Implant Placement

Interventions

Conventional Dental Implant Placement PROCEDURE

Dental implants were placed using conventional surgical procedures without an alveolar ridge split procedure because the available maxillary ridge width was sufficient for implant placement.

Group/Cohort 1; Group/Cohort 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consisted of patients treated for completely edentulous maxillae with implant-supported fixed prostheses at the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Prosthodontics, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Dentistry, Trabzon, Türkiye, between January 2012 and June 2022. Patients had either insufficient horizontal alveolar ridge width requiring alveolar ridge splitting or sufficient ridge width allowing conventional implant placement.

You may qualify if:

• Completely edentulous maxilla requiring implant-supported fixed prosthetic rehabilitation.
• Horizontal augmentation of the completely edentulous maxilla using the alveolar ridge split (ARS) technique in patients with insufficient ridge width (\<5 mm), or conventional implant placement in patients with sufficient alveolar ridge width (≥5 mm).
• Dental implants placed at the treated maxillary sites.
• Rehabilitation with a fixed implant-supported prosthesis.
• A minimum follow-up period of 1 year.

You may not qualify if:

• Previous augmentation procedures or implant surgery in the maxilla.
• Serious systemic diseases, including diabetes mellitus or osteoporosis.
• Severe parafunctional habits.
• Smoking addiction.
• Pathological conditions affecting the oral soft or hard tissues.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karadeniz Technical University: lead

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Prof. Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2026
• First Posted: September 29, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2012
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2025
• Study Completion: February 1, 2025
• Last Updated: September 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share