Operative Times, Costs and Patient‐Related Outcome Measures in Vertical Ridge Augmentation With Customised Reinforced PTFE Mesh Versus CAD/CAM Titanium Mesh: Secondary Analysis of a Randomised Clinical Trial

Abstract

AimThis secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial aimed to investigate vertical ridge augmentation (VRA) by comparing complication rates (primary outcome), times, costs and patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) between customised Ti‐reinforced PTFE mesh and customised CAD/CAM titanium mesh.Materials and MethodsPatients with vertical bone defects were randomly assigned to alveolar bone augmentation using either Ti‐PTFE mesh or Ti mesh (T0). After 6–9 months, barriers were removed, and computer‐guided surgery was performed to place implants in the augmented sites (T1). Complications, times, costs and PROMs (anxiety, pain, anti‐inflammatory drug dosage, limitations in daily functions) were assessed and analysed.ResultsForty‐eight of 50 patients completed the bone augmentation surgery as per protocol. The estimated difference in healing complications was −0.04% (CI: −0.22 to 0.13), confirming the non‐inferiority of Ti meshes to PTFE meshes. The estimated differences were −3.50 min (CI: −23.49 to 16.49) for total operative time (p = 0.688); €17.37 (−77.25 to 111.99) for costs (p = 0.130); −0.17 (CI: −0.80 to 0.47) for anti‐inflammatory drug usage (p = 0.299); 0.56 (CI: −1.97 to 0.85) for pain levels (p = 0.565); and −0.13 (CI: −0.61 to 0.36) for limitations in daily functions (p = 0.528), on the day after surgery.ConclusionOutcomes were favourable, which encourage the use of both medical devices with low complication rates and both digital approaches, resulting in favourable operative times and PROMs.