Bone into Bone technique: An alternative to horizontal bone regeneration techniques. Retrospective case-control study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of lateral ridge augmentation (LRA) of porcine cortical barriers when placed in a surgical bone gap, buccal to the defect, using the Bone into Bone (BiB) technique compared to a guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique.

Methods: The study was a retrospective case-control evaluation. A group of 23 subjects (test) underwent horizontal augmentation procedures using the BiB technique. A group of 18 subjects (control) was treated with the guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique, using a resorbable membrane and a mixture of heterologous bovine particles and autologous bone fragments. Radiological and histological analysis of the outcomes were performed.

Results: Mean ridge width varied from a preoperative value of 3.4 mm to a postoperative value, measured 8 months postoperatively, of 7.1 mm in the Control Group. The mean ridge width varied from a preoperative value of 4.8 mm to a postoperative value, measured 8 months after the procedure, of 7.5 mm in the Test Group. Histological images, after 8 months, showed native, mineralized bone with a lamellar pattern of varying thickness (30.3% ± 5.3).

Clinical significance: This technique (Bone-into-Bone) using resorbable heterologous biomaterials and without the use of retention devices for horizontal bone augmentation may be a viable alternative that is easily reproducible and has reduced morbidity for the patient.