Efficacy of the Tent-Pole Technique in Horizontal Ridge Augmentation

Six patients with nine sites presenting an initial ridge width of smaller than 4 mm were included in this study. The tent-pole technique (combination of osteosynthesis screws measuring 1.5 mm in diameter, ABBM, and resorbable collagen membrane) was applied at defect sites. After eight months of healing time, implants were placed in the treated sites. The primary outcomes (radiographic initial ridge width, re-entry ridge width, ridge width gain) were measured by cone-beam computed tomography in reference buccopalatal cross-sections and the secondary outcomes (clinical parameters) were recorded by a digital caliper at the first and second stages.

Results:

After grafting, the radiographic ridge width increased by 3.02 ± 1.11 mm (1.57-4.75 mm) at 2 mm below the crest and 3.32 ± 1.70 mm (0.23-5.66 mm) at 6 mm below the crest significantly (p< 0.05). For clinical results, the mean horizontal dimension gain was 3.21 ± 1.04 mm (1.83-4.57 mm), while the mean reduction in dimension was 0.38 ± 0.33 mm. These results were statistically significant (p<0.05). Uneventful healing and no infections or membrane exposure were recorded at all sites during the study process. Three of nine (33.33%) defect sites required additional bone grafting.

Conclusion:

The tent-pole technique is an effective method for increasing the horizontal ridge dimension, minimizing postoperative complications, and facilitating subsequent implant placement.

Keywords:
Dental Implantation; Dental Implants; Alveolar Process; Guided Tissue Regeneration

	Tooth Loss Sites	Initial Ridge Width (mm)		Re-Entry Ridge Width (mm)		Ridge Width Gain (mm)
Patient	Tooth Loss Sites	at 2 mm	at 6 mm	at 2 mm	at 6 mm	at 2 mm	at 6 mm
1	24	3.36	5.39	4.93	5.62	1.57	0.23
2	21	3.71	5.41	6.07	10.78	2.36	5.37
3	12	2.10	6.46	4.99	8.62	2.89	2.16
4	21	2.32	5.83	5.86	9.49	3.54	3.66
5	11	3.21	4.21	5.20	7.36	1.99	3.15
6	14	4.00	5.00	6.04	8.91	2.04	3.91
	21	2.50	3.40	6.47	9.06	3.97	5.66
	24	3.20	6.20	7.95	10.03	4.75	3.83
	25	3.50	8.10	7.59	10.04	4.09	1.94
Mean (SD)		3.10 ± 0.65		6.12 ± 1.08		3.02 ± 1.11
p-value						<0.05^* * Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Patient	Tooth Loss Sites	Initial Ridge Width (mm)	Post-Op Ridge Width (mm)	Re-Entry Ridge Width (mm)	Reduced Dimensions (mm)	Ridge Width Gain (mm)
1	24	3.24	5.74	5.07	0.67	1.83
2	21	2.98	6.23	6.13	0.1	3.15
3	12	2.06	5.22	4.87	0.35	2.81
4	21	2.13	5.91	4.8	1.11	2.67
5	11	3.16	6.13	6.07	0.06	2.91
6	14	3.91	6.43	5.98	0.45	2.07
	21	1.98	6.63	6.54	0.09	4.56
	24	3.16	7.98	7.73	0.25	4.57
	25	3.15	7.82	7.45	0.37	4.3
Mean (SD)		2.86 ± 0.66	6.45 ± 0.92	6.07 ± 1.06	0.38 ± 0.33	3.21 ± 1.04
p-value					<0.05^* * Wilcoxon signed-rank test.	<0.05^* * Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

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[1] Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: Tu Lam Doan, Department of Dental Implantology, Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, 652 Nguyen Trai Str., District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Phone: +84344053350. E-mail: lamtubmt@gmail.com.