Efficacy of lateral bone augmentation performed simultaneously with dental implant placement: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the evidence regarding the efficacy of lateral bone augmentation procedures in terms of defect resolution in cases of horizontal ridge deficiencies after implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Included studies met the following inclusion criteria: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs), re-entry procedure to assess defect resolution, minimum of 10 patients (5 per group). Meta-analyses were performed whenever possible, including subgroup analysis based on membranes and grafting materials. RESULTS: Twenty-eight publications (20 short-term, 8 follow-up studies) were included. The most often used type of intervention was a xenogeneic particulated grafting material (XE) and a resorbable collagen membrane (CM). The mean defect height at baseline amounted to 5.1 mm (range 2.4-7.8) and decreased to a mean of 0.9 mm (range 0.2-2.2) at re-entry, and the mean defect resolution was 81.3% (range 56.4%-97.1%). Defect height reduction was not significantly different using CM+XE as control treatment compared to the combined data of the respective test groups [n = 11; weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.006 mm; 95% CI, -0.61, 0.60; p = 0.985]. The absence of any lateral bone augmentation was less favourable than the conjunction of a membrane and a bone grafting material (n = 1; MD = -1.96 mm; 95% CI, -3.48, -0.44; p = 0.011). The lack of a grafting material was less favourable than the conjunction of grafting material and membrane (n = 1; MD = -2.44 mm; 95% CI, -4.53, -0.35; p = 0.022), and the addition of a membrane compared to a grafting material alone was more favourable (n = 3; WMD = 0.97 mm; 95% CI, 0.31, 1.64; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Lateral bone augmentation is a successful treatment modality. For optimal defect height reduction, a barrier membrane and a grafting material should be combined.