Clinical and histologic evaluation of the use of mandibular tori as donor site for mandibular block autografts: report of three cases.

The present paper reports on three patients who underwent localized alveolar ridge augmentation using block autografts harvested from the mandibular tori. Autogenous particulate bone graft was placed at the periphery of the block. Resorbable collagen membrane was placed above the graft material. Implant placement surgery followed at 6 to 16 months after bone grafting. During implant surgery, a biopsy was taken from the block autograft. Clinical evaluation revealed incorporation of the graft material at the recipient site. No donor site complication was noted. Histologic evaluation suggested that the block autograft was vital and in an active remodeling phase at the time of implant placement. Impressions were made intraorally before and 6 months after bone grafting. Laboratory measurements revealed 13% resorption at 6 months after bone grafting while 0.53 mL of ridge augmentation was achieved 6 months after bone grafting. Linear tomographs indicated 4.33 mm of lateral alveolar ridge augmentation. This report suggests that block autografts harvested from the mandibular tori may have the potential to maintain their vitality after bone grafting, while they may demonstrate resorption rates similar to those of autografts harvested from other intraoral donor sites.