Anterior mandible atrophy
Today we are sharing a clinical case of anterior mandible atrophy, a region well known for its difficulty when it comes to bone grafting. The patient is a 53-year-old non-smoker with no relevant systemic conditions, except for controlled high cholesterol.
He presented with a complete edentulous span from canine to canine in the mandible. Clinical and radiographic evaluation revealed significant horizontal bone atrophy in the anterior jaw.
Why anterior mandible atrophy is so challenging
The anterior mandible poses a particular challenge for bone reconstruction. First, the region often shows poor medullary vascularity due to high cortical bone density. In addition, the soft tissue—especially on the lingual side—is typically thin and delicate, which increases the risk of wound dehiscence and complicates flap handling.
Treatment approach and surgical technique
We opted for bone grafting using Dr. Khoury’s technique, which allows for predictable horizontal ridge augmentation. Thin cortical bone plates were adapted and fixed to create a regenerative space, which was filled with particulate bone. Implants were placed in the canine positions, and the site was closed using 5/0 polypropylene sutures.
Healing progressed smoothly, with no signs of tissue dehiscence at one month post-op.
📎 You can follow the second stage of this case here:
👉 Implant placement after bone reconstruction
Learn more
Would you like to master similar techniques for atrophic mandibles? Visit our clinical case archive to explore more grafting protocols and follow-ups in demanding anatomical regions.
