Comparison of Autogenous Block Bone Graft and Screw Tent-Pole Techniques for Vertical Bone Augmentation in the Posterior Mandible: A Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Study

Aim: To evaluate the effect on vertical bone augmentation of the screw tent-pole technique using particulate allograft in combination with injectable platelet-rich fibrin, and to compare this with autogenous block bone graft. Materials and Methods: This split-mouth randomized controlled study involved patients with bilateral partial edentulism and vertical bone loss in the posterior mandible. In each patient, the control side was treated with autogenous block bone graft harvested from the mandibular ramus and, on the test side, the screw tent-pole technique was employed, using particulate allograft in combination with injectable platelet-rich fibrin. All augmented sites were covered by leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin membrane. The primary outcome variable of this study was the radiographic changes to bone height 6 months after augmentation. The secondary outcome variables were the percentage of newly formed bone and the implant survival rate. The data were analyzed with a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: Of the 13 patients included, a total of 11 patients (7 females, 4 males; mean age 50.92) completed the study. The mean values of vertical bone gain were 1.72 ± 0.78 mm for the test group and 2.83 ± 0.89 mm for the control group, which constitutes a significant difference (P = .008). The percentage of newly formed bone was 18.08% ± 2.17% for the test group and 14.26% ± 1.76% for the control group. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < .001). The implant survival rates were 100% for both study groups. Conclusions: Based on the study results, screw tent-pole can be considered a feasible technique for bone augmentation. Further randomized studies will be necessary to fully evaluate vertical bone augmentation using the screw tent-pole technique, with different graft materials and with larger samples.