[Technique and results of a one-stage procedure combining endosseous implantation (TPS) and classical preprosthetic surgery in the mandible]

Relative ridge augmentation procedures often provide a limited improvement in denture retention, due to advanced resorption of the alveolar ridge and loss of vertical bone height. The alternative treatment, i.e. integration of endosseous implants, leaves the mobile soft tissues uncapable of bearing a denture; this requires additional mucosal procedures. To avoid multiple operations we have combined the integration of frontal endosseous implants with the classical relative ridge augmentation procedure in one stage. While implantation, on the one hand, improves multidimensional denture retention, total sulcoplasty with split skin and mucosal grafts, on the other, provides a firm and strong covering of the ridge and a wider soft tissue area for denture support.