Comparison between peri-implant bone level changes of implants placed during and 3 months after iliac bone grafting.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the peri-implant bone level changes of implants placed during and 3 months after bone grafting from the iliac crest.

Study Design: A total of 103 implants were placed: 42 during the grafting and 61 at 3 months after the grafting procedure. All patients were grafted with iliac bone from the anterosuperior iliac crest. Bone resorption was evaluated with cone beam computed tomography in all patients at their last control visit. Periodontal health was assessed via the gingival and plaque indices and pocket depths around the dental implants.

Results: Mean bone resorption values at the buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal sides of the implants were 1.08 mm, 0.36 mm, 0.30 mm, and 0.25 mm, respectively, in the delayed group, and 1.87 mm, 1.25 mm, 0.92 mm, and 1.23 mm, respectively, in the simultaneous group; the differences between the groups were significant. There were no significant between-group differences in the gingival or plaque indices or pocket depths. The mean follow-up period was 29 months.

Conclusions: For reconstructing atrophic jaws, bone grafting from the iliac crest and implant placement after 3 months is a reliable technique with a high success rate and less bone resorption.