Reconstruction of the Alveolar Bone Using Bone Augmentation With Selective Laser Melting Titanium Mesh Sheet

Abstract

Bone augmentation is used to supplement bone defects during dental implant treatment. In this technique, the area filled with bone prosthetic material is covered with an artificial space-making device or titanium mesh sheet, which must be manually adapted to the bone defect during the procedure before being fixed in place. Selective laser melting (SLM) method can be used to preadapt the titanium mesh sheet based on preoperative CT data. This method enables shorter surgery times compared with conventional titanium mesh sheet methods, as well as regeneration of an ideal alveolar bone shape. Here, we present 2 cases of bone augmentation using the SLM titanium mesh sheet method. The postoperative course was without complications in both cases; neither patient experienced mesh exposure or infection during healing. The SLM titanium mesh sheet method should be considered as a new and effective bone augmentation method.