Purpose. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation techniques described by Khoury and Urban. Methods. A systematic electronic search in the MEDLINE databases, SCOPUS, WOS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) as well as a manual search, were conducted independently by two reviewers up to July 2021. Results. Six studies met the pre-established inclusion criteria and were included in the descriptive analysis. Due to the heterogeneity found across the included studies, meta-analysis could not be performed. Horizontal bone gain was between 3.93 ± 0.9 mm and 5.02 ± 0.8 mm with the Khoury technique and between 3.9 ± 0.9 mm and 5.68 ± 1.42 mm with the Urban technique. Similar complication rates were reported in both groups: infection (7%), in the Khoury technique, and membrane exposure (3.2–13.6%), in the Urban technique, being the most frequent events. Conclusions. Both techniques were found to be effective, in terms of clinical bone gain, for horizontal alveolar ridge gain. Nevertheless, available literature is limited, and there is a lack of comparative studies to better evaluate the results.

Implant rehabilitation of posterior mandibular defects is frequently associated to a horizontal bone loss. There exist several regenerative techniques to supply this bone deficiency, one of which is the Periosteal Pocket Flap Technique (PPF) proposed by Steigmann et al. to treat small horizontal bone defects. The present study proposes a modification of this technique based on the concurrent use of PPF with the use of xenogeneic and autologous bone and Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF). The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes of the PPF with the use of xenogeneic and autologous bone and PRGF in comparison with conventional Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) procedures. Nine patients were enroled in the study (7 women and 2 men, mean age: 53 ± 2.74 years) and allocated to PPF or GBR. In both groups implant placement was performed simultaneously to bone regeneration. Preoperative CBCT scans were performed for each patient. Surgical time and postoperative pain were recorded, as well as tissue healing. Moreover, horizontal bone gain (mm), graft surface area (mm2) and graft volume (mm3) were evaluated. Nine surgeries were performed: 6 PPF and 3 GBR. Regarding clinical outcomes, operative time was significative greater in GBR group than in PPF group (51.67 ± 3.51 min vs. 37 ± 5.69 min; p = 0.008). Postoperative pain was higher in GBR compared to PPF (p = 0.011). Regarding radiographical results, there were not significant differences in horizontal bone gain (PPF: 9.43 ± 1.8 mm; GBR: 9.28 ± 0.42 mm), surface area (PPF: 693.33 ± 118.73 mm²; GBR: 655.61 ± 102.43 mm²), and volume (PPF: 394.97 ± 178.72 mm³; GBR: 261.66 ± 118 mm³) between groups. This prospective study demonstrates that the combination of autograft/xenograft and PRGF in PPF technique is a simpler, cheaper, and faster technique than GBR technique for achieving moderate lateral bone augmentation in implant treatment. Future randomised clinical studies are needed to confirm the results.

Aging induces changes in bone. Growth hormone (GH) is reduced by aging, and age-related changes observed in old bones might be due to a decrease in the GH/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis. GH administration on aged individuals is controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of systemic GH treatment on bone properties, bone metabolism, and bone mineral density (BMD) in long bone of old rats. Aged Wistar rats were treated with GH at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day during 10 weeks. Plasma osteocalcin, IGF-I, and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen levels were measured. Cross-sectional bone areas and BMD were measured by morphometric and densitometric analysis, respectively. Femora were analyzed by three point-bending testing. t -Test was used for statistical evaluation. p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Significantly enhanced bone area, at the expense of the cortical area, was found in treated rats. The densitometric analysis showed 11% higher BMD in the experimental group. Significantly higher bone flexural modulus, stiffness, and ultimate load were observed in the treated rats. Plasma osteocalcin and IGF-I levels were significantly increased in the treated group, while the resorption marker concentration remained unchanged. Within the limitations of this experimental study, systemic GH administration has shown to enhance biomechanical properties, BMD, cortical mass, and plasma IGF-I and osteocalcin in old treated rats, compared to the control group; consequently, GH could be considered as an alternative therapy against age-related changes in the bone.

Congenital third molar (3M) agenesis is a common dental anomaly associated with genetic, epigenetic, and craniofacial growth factors. Evidence regarding its prevalence across populations and its relationship with sagittal and vertical growth patterns remains limited. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of 3M agenesis in Spanish and Peruvian samples and analyze its association with craniofacial growth patterns. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 1191 patients aged 10–14 years (348 Spanish, 843 Peruvian). 3M agenesis was assessed on digital panoramic radiographs. Sagittal and vertical growth patterns were evaluated using Steiner’s cephalometric analysis (ANB and GoGn–SN angles). Overall, 3M agenesis prevalence was 25.1%, with no difference between the Spanish (25.0%) and Peruvian (25.15%) groups. A non-significant trend toward higher prevalence was observed in Spanish females. 3M agenesis was more frequent in maxillary than mandibular 3M (16.8% vs. 10.2%; p < 0.001). Growth patterns differed between populations, with Class I and normodivergent patterns predominating in Spanish subjects, and Class II and hyperdivergent patterns in Peruvians (p < 0.001). No significant associations were found between 3M agenesis and sagittal or vertical growth patterns (p > 0.05), although Class II patients exhibited a higher prevalence of mandibular 3M agenesis (14.8% vs. 10.8%; p = 0.04). 3M agenesis showed similar prevalence in both populations and was not associated with craniofacial growth patterns, except for mandibular 3M agenesis in Class II patients, suggesting a multifactorial etiology driven by genetic and developmental factors rather than demographic or skeletal variables. It should be noted, however, that the cross-sectional nature of the study, the recruitment of patients from university dental clinics, and the absence of multivariate regression analysis limit both the generalizability and the causal interpretation of the findings.