Guided bone regeneration by means of a preformed titanium foil: A case of severe atrophy of edentulous posterior mandible.

The aim of this case report was to evaluate the potential of preformed titanium foil (PTF) as membrane, used together with a mouldable allograft paste, for guided bone regeneration in a case of severe mandibular posterior atrophy involving the alveolar nerve. In order to create a rigid barrier to the competitive growth of soft tissues and a stable volume for the colonization of the osteoprogenitor cells, a foil of pure titanium was pre-shaped by means of a stereolithographic model, obtained from a CT-scan of the patient. This procedure showed promising results, allowing to maximize the outcome and simplifying the surgical phase.