Horizontal Bone Augmentation
A surgical procedure to increase alveolar bone width in the buccolingual or labiopalatal dimension to enable implant placement in a prosthetically ideal position.
Full Definition
Horizontal bone augmentation addresses deficient ridge width resulting from tooth loss, trauma, or prior infection, where vertical bone height is adequate but lateral volume is insufficient for implant placement without fenestration or dehiscence. Techniques include guided bone regeneration with particulate grafts and membranes, block bone grafting (autogenous or allograft), and ridge splitting/expansion. Editors should note the distinction between horizontal and vertical bone augmentation, as the two carry different surgical complexity, complication profiles, and evidence bases. Manuscripts that conflate the two dimensions should be queried.
Usage
Usage note: Always qualify 'bone augmentation' with its dimensional direction (horizontal or vertical) in clinical reports for precision.
In Context
- "Horizontal bone augmentation using a titanium-reinforced PTFE membrane restored the buccal plate lost following traumatic extraction." — GBR surgical report
- "The distinction between horizontal and vertical bone augmentation should be made explicit in the methods section, as the two procedures were conflated in the original draft." — Copy-editing note