Application of Implant Healing Abutment Supporting Vertical Bone Augments in the Posterior Mandibular Area

To address the problem of insufficient bone mass in the implant area, we focused on the vertical increment of the posterior mandibular area to increase bone mass with the aid of a healing abutment. Data of patients with insufficient vertical bone height in the posterior mandibular area were collected, and vertical increment of alveolar bone operations was performed with the aid of a healing abutment. Preoperative residual alveolar bone height, immediate postoperative alveolar bone height, and 6-month postoperative alveolar bone height were recorded, with peri-implant soft tissue results 6 months after surgery using the modified plaque index and sulcus bleeding index. Twelve patients, aged 42-73 years, with an average age of 55.91 ± 11.58 years, received vertical bone augmentation in the posterior mandibular region supported by implant healing abutments. Fifteen SLA TSIII OSSTEM implants were utilized in the 12 patients; one patient failed in vertical bone augmentation at one site (H0 = 0 mm). The vertical bone augmentation effect of two patients at two sites was 0 mm < H0 < 1 mm, and the vertical bone augmentation effect of 12 sites in nine patients was H0 ≥ 1 mm. The implant success rate was 93.3%, and the mean vertical bone gain was 2.91 mm. Peri-implant soft tissue parameters are as follows: mean modified plaque index, 1.92; mean modified sulcus bleeding index, 1.21; and mean probing depth, 3.18. No clinically observable complications occurred. Bone augmentation supported by the implant healing abutment showed the characteristics of "platform transfer", with good formation of the implant-bone interface. The bone augmentation surgery was completed at the same time as the implant placement, which reduced the pain of multiple operations and shortened waiting times. We provide a novel idea to solve the problem of insufficient vertical bone height in the posterior mandibular region.