Bone Augmentation
A surgical procedure to increase the volume or quality of bone at an implant site using grafting materials or regenerative techniques.
Full Definition
Bone augmentation encompasses a range of clinical procedures — including guided bone regeneration (GBR), ridge splitting, distraction osteogenesis, and block grafting — intended to build up deficient bone at a prospective or existing implant site. The term is a broad umbrella category, and editors must ensure authors distinguish between horizontal and vertical augmentation, as these carry different procedural and prognostic implications. In regulatory and reimbursement documents, bone augmentation may be coded separately from the implant placement itself, so precision matters. The term should not be used synonymously with 'bone grafting,' which refers specifically to the placement of graft material rather than the broader surgical objective.
Usage
Usage note: Always qualify whether augmentation is horizontal, vertical, or both, as these distinctions affect clinical interpretation.
In Context
- "Vertical bone augmentation was performed six months prior to implant placement using a titanium mesh and particulate allograft." — Surgical case series
- "The manuscript used 'bone grafting' and 'bone augmentation' as synonyms; editorial correction was required to clarify procedural scope." — Peer review comment