Distraction osteogenesis represents a predictable and biologically driven modality for reconstructing craniofacial defects, particularly in cases involving extensive alveolar loss where traditional bone grafting alone may be insufficient. Its unique advantage lies in the concomitant expansion of both osseous and soft-tissue compartments, including neurovascular structures and attached gingiva, an outcome rarely achievable with conventional grafting approaches. We report the case of a 23-year-old male patient who sustained severe anterior maxillary and mandibular alveolar defects following a road traffic accident (RTA) in Saudi Arabia. The patient presented with loss of the anterior upper and lower dentoalveolar segments and significant maxillary impaction. Regeneration was performed using staged alveolar distraction osteogenesis with internal KLS Martin distractors (KLS Martin Group, Tuttlingen, Germany), followed by guided bone regeneration (GBR) utilizing allograft and xenograft materials and resorbable membranes, culminating in implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation. The patient achieved excellent functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial outcomes. This case underscores the effectiveness of distraction osteogenesis as a dual-purpose strategy for hard- and soft-tissue enhancement, particularly when integrated with GBR to optimize implant-borne rehabilitation in complex anterior jaw defects.
Algarni et al. (Tue,) studied this question.