The reconstruction of a maxillary anterior dentoalveolar defect in patients with trauma has been a challenge for surgeons. Extensive loss of bone and teeth in the anterior maxilla presents a complex problem for reconstruction. This is owing to the difficulty in achieving complete closure using overlying soft tissue. Tension-free sutures cannot be used after a large bone graft because the overlying soft tissue on severe bone defects of the anterior maxilla is often deficient and is attached to the underlying atrophic bone by scarring. Distraction osteogenesis provides a method to regain both hard tissue and soft tissue without any grafting. We describe a patient who had severe maxillary anterior bony defects that were restored by means of piezoelectric distraction osteogenesis, followed by dental implant placement. Clinical, radiological, and histological results showed that the reconstruction was successful.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.