Osseointegrated dental implants in conjunction with bone grafts

This paper relates to the experience with 12 patients who received osseointegrated dental implants of the Branemark design associated with bone grafts. 4 patients had iliac crest grafts, 2, of which were inserted together with the implants. Two had metatarsal reconstruction of the anterior mandible with the implants installed at a later date. 2 patients had particulate marrow grafts with immediate installation of the implants. Of the remainder, 1 had a late implantation of a myo-osseous flap utilizing the clavicle and the other delayed implantation of a split rib graft. The mean age of the patients in this series is 49.5 years. The mean loading time for completed cases is 18 months. 7 patients have had their dentition successfully restored, 3 lost the initial implants, 2 of which have been re-operated. One patient died prior to loading and one awaits the final surgical procedure. The results of the particulate marrow and split rib grafts were disappointing. The remainder suggest that osseointegrated dental implants may be utilized with appropriate bone grafting techniques to restore the dentition in patients with severe bone loss or following the surgical ablation of malignant disease.