Guided Bone Regeneration and Implant Placement in Association With a Coronally Positioned Palatal Sliding Flap: A 17-Year Follow-Up Case Report

Figure 1. Initial orthopantomograph. Figure 2. Clinical view of the edentulous ridge 3 months after dental extractions.

Implant placement and simultaneous reconstructive procedure. (a) Occlusal view of the resorbed alveolar ridge following mucoperiosteal flap reflection. The irregular portion of the residual alveolar bone characterized by a triangular-shape morphology is clearly visible. (b) Occlusal view of the implants placed in a prosthetically guided position. (c) Occlusal-lateral view of the implants showing the bone defect from a buccal aspect. (d) Occlusal-lateral view of the bone graft consisting of autogenous bone block and heterologous bone particles. The nonresorbable membrane has already been fixed to the palatal plate. (e) Occlusal-lateral view of the nonresorbable membrane secured over the bone graft to the buccal aspect with three cortical pins. (f) Occlusal view of the coronally positioned sliding palatal flap demonstrating the bucco-palatal soft tissue gain of 2–3 mm.

Figure 4. Clinical and radiological assessment at the 8-month recall. (a) Occlusal view of the surgical site. (b) Lateral view of the surgical site. (c) Intraoral radiograph showing the radiological healing. Figure 5. Re-entry surgery after 8 months from the augmentation procedure. (a) Occlusal view of the restored contour of the alveolar ridge. (b) Lateral view of the regenerated alveolar bone. Figure 6. Lateral view of the temporary acrylic resin prosthesis.

Figure 7. Radiological follow-up examinations. (a) 1-year orthopantomography. (b) Eight-year intraoral radiograph. (c) Twelve-year intraoral radiograph. Figure 8. Seventeen-year clinical and radiological follow-up recall. (a) Lateral view of definitive crowns and soft tissue profiles. (b) Intraoral radiograph.