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Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe a new technique and the anatomic sites for cutting and harvesting bone for grafting applications. A handheld instrument is described that cuts and collects thin shavings of bone from cortical surfaces., Materials and Methods: This study included 193 consecutive patients who needed bone augmentation and simultaneous implant placement in the severely atrophic posterior maxilla and in the anterior maxilla with acquired defect of alveolar bone as a result of local trauma. A total of 477 implants were placed. Clinical criteria for evaluation at time of implant exposure included stability in all directions, crestal bone resorption, and any reported pain of discomfort., Results: There were no failures of the anterior maxilla group, and no signs of bone resorption were noted at the second stage surgery or during the follow-up. During initial and late healing, there was no dehiscence of the soft tissue flaps and no membranes were exposed. Core biopsies typically showed immature, newly formed bone and, on average, 27% to 36% vital bone., Conclusion: From this research, it appears that excellent implant success rates can be achieved in grafted sinuses or ridges when a locally harvested autogenous bone graft with a ribbon geometry is used.

Purpose: This article presents a clinical technique for immediate implant loading in the completely edentulous mandible., Materials and Methods: The protocol recommends the placement of 4 to 5 root-form implants in the anterior mandible between the mental foramina. Upon insertion the implants must have favorable primary stability. Abutments are added to the implants and the patient's lower denture is converted into an immediate load provisional fixed prosthesis., Results: The denture conversion technique has been shown to provide predictable results for immediate implant loading in the edentulous mandible. The final prosthesis is fabricated upon integration of the implants in 3 months., Conclusion: The denture conversion technique offers several advantages because it may be used with most commercially available implant systems and it incorporates conventional implant components. Guidelines for patient selection, presurgical preparation, implant surgery, prosthesis fabrication, and postoperative care are reviewed.