Self-inflating oral tissue expander for ridge augmentation in the severely atrophic mandible
A 54-year-old female patient was diagnosed with severe bone resorption on the right mandibular posterior area. The patient wanted to have 3 more implants for right-side molar rehabilitations. Bone graft and new implants were planned, but the vertical height of the remaining alveolar bone was low and close to the inferior alveolar nerve canal, posing a limitation in implant surgery.(, )\nFirst, the insertion of tissue expander was performed for soft tissue augmentation. Buccolingual incision to secure a pouch was done, and Osmed tissue expander (cylinder type, 0.045 mL) was inserted and fixed using screw fixation.()\nThe expander was left in place for 3 weeks and expanded from 0.045 mL to 0.24 mL.()\nNerve repositioning surgery for inferior alveolar nerve repositioning was done during implant surgery. Simultaneous implant surgery was done after autogenous and xenogenic bone graft and tension-free soft tissue coverage using self-inflating tissue expander.\nOne and a half years after the operation, the inserted dental implant and expanded soft tissue healed well. In the neurologic examination, the sensory of the lower right lip was improved, and periodic follow-up was done with no complaints from the patient.()