The use of freeze-dried bone allograft as an alternative to autogenous bone graft in the atrophic maxilla: a 3-year clinical follow-up.

Freeze-dried bone allograft is an interesting treatment alternative to autogenous bone grafts. This clinical report presents a 3-year follow-up of an atrophic maxilla treated with freeze-dried bone allograft. Ridge augmentation was conducted with freeze-dried tibial allografts. Eight implants were used to support a full-arch prosthesis. Three years later, clinical and radiographic follow-up showed bone surrounding the dental implants. Histologic sections showed the presence of biologically active bone. This clinical case supports the use of freeze-dried allograft as an alternative for the reconstruction of the atrophic maxilla.