Ridge Splitting
A bone-expansion surgical technique in which a narrow alveolar ridge is divided longitudinally to create space for simultaneous or staged implant placement.
Full Definition
Ridge splitting, also termed ridge expansion or alveolar ridge expansion, involves the use of chisels, piezoelectric instruments, or expanding screws to split the cortical plates of a narrow ridge apart, widening it without removing bone. The technique is most applicable to the maxilla owing to its more elastic bone structure. Editors should note that 'ridge splitting' is always hyphenated as a compound noun or modifier. It is a bone management strategy and should not be confused with ridge preservation, which is a post-extraction socket procedure, or bone augmentation, which adds exogenous material.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate 'ridge-splitting' when used as a compound modifier (e.g., 'ridge-splitting technique'). Confirm which term—splitting vs expansion—is preferred by the publication or manufacturer's documentation.
In Context
- "Ridge splitting was performed using a piezoelectric device, allowing simultaneous implant placement in the same surgical session." — Surgical technique article
- "Given the 3 mm ridge width, the surgeon elected ridge splitting over a staged grafting approach." — Operative report