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Horizontal Ridge DeficiencyNCT06942013

Radiographic Assessment of Guided Cortical Shell Technique for Horizontal Ridge Augmentation

A study testing Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Study Group) in people with Horizontal Ridge Deficiency, run by Cairo University.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Official record
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Trial summary

The protocol outlines a randomized clinical trial comparing two surgical techniques for horizontal ridge augmentation in the anterior mandible: Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (using a patient-specific guide for precise placement). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Horizontal Ridge Deficiency
What is being tested?
Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Study Group)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
1 May 2025to 1 Sep 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 60 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • • Anterior mandible with horizontal deficient alveolar ridge that is from 2 to 4 mm measured from the crest of the alveolar ridge buccolingually.
  • Class IV and V according to Cawood and Howell classification.
  • No sex predilection.
  • Patients free from any systemic conditions and bone metabolism diseases that might interfere with the surgical intervention, soft tissue or hard tissue healing.
  • The minimum number of missing teeth in the anterior mandible alveolar ridge is two adjacent teeth.
  • Normal vertical dimension with normal inter-arch space.

Who cannot join

  • • Intra-bony lesions (e.g. cysts) or infections (e.g. abscess) that may retard the osteotomy healing.
  • General contraindications to implant surgery.
  • Subjected to irradiation in the head and neck area less than 1 year before implantation.
  • Untreated periodontitis.
  • Poor oral hygiene and motivation.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes.
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Pregnant or nursing females.
  • Immunosuppressed or immunocompromised
  • Heavy smokers
  • Patients who undergo medication interfere with bone healing
  • Previous grafting procedures in the edentulous area.

About this study

Official title: Radiographic Assessment of Cortical Shell Technique For Horizontal Ridge Augmentation In The Anterior Mandible Using Full Digital Workflow Versus Free Hand Protocol: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The protocol outlines a randomized clinical trial comparing two surgical techniques for horizontal ridge augmentation in the anterior mandible:

Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (using a patient-specific guide for precise placement).

Read more

Free-Hand Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (traditional approach without a guiding template).

Key Points:

The study aims to determine which method provides better accuracy and bone volume stability.

Cone Beam CT scans (CBCT) will assess horizontal bone gain preoperatively and six months postoperatively.

The trial is conducted at Cairo University's Faculty of Dentistry. Participants: Patients with pure horizontal bone loss in the anterior mandible.

Outcomes:

Primary: Bone width gain in millimeters. Secondary: Accuracy of augmentation and surgical time.

Methodology:

The study group will use computer-designed surgical osteotomy guides to harvest and place bone grafts with improved precision.

The control group will rely on the conventional free-hand approach. Both groups will undergo bone grafting using autogenous cortical bone shells.

Data Collection \& Analysis:

Participants will be randomized and blinded. Data will be analyzed using statistical methods to compare effectiveness.

Read the detailed description

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the clinical effectiveness and surgical accuracy of a computer-guided versus a conventional free-hand approach for horizontal ridge augmentation in the anterior mandible using the autogenous cortical shell technique.

Participants presenting with horizontal alveolar bone deficiency in the anterior mandible are randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Study Group: A fully digital workflow is employed, including CBCT-based virtual planning and the use of 3D-printed, patient-specific stereolithographic guides for both bone harvesting and graft placement.

Control Group: The traditional free-hand technique is used without computer-guided assistance.

The study is designed to assess whether the digital, guided approach enhances horizontal bone gain, optimizes graft placement accuracy, reduces operative time, and lowers complication rates compared to the free-hand protocol.

The intervention involves preoperative 3D planning, surgical guide fabrication, and intraoperative bone harvesting and grafting. Both groups receive autogenous cortical bone blocks harvested from the mandibular symphysis and secured at the recipient site with mini screws. Bone particulate (autogenous + xenograft, 1:1 ratio) is used to augment volume.

Primary outcome is the amount of horizontal bone gain measured via CBCT superimposition at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include surgical time, accuracy of graft placement, and incidence of postoperative complications such as pain, swelling, infection, dehiscence, or graft exposure.

This single-center, single-blinded equivalence trial uses a 1:1 randomization ratio. Ethical approval has been obtained, and participants provide informed consent prior to enrollment. The results are expected to inform surgical best practices and improve the predictability of mandibular ridge augmentation procedures.This randomized controlled trial evaluates the clinical effectiveness and surgical accuracy of a computer-guided versus a conventional free-hand approach for horizontal ridge augmentation in the anterior mandible using the autogenous cortical shell technique.

Participants presenting with horizontal alveolar bone deficiency in the anterior mandible are randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Study Group: A fully digital workflow is employed, including CBCT-based virtual planning and the use of 3D-printed, patient-specific stereolithographic guides for both bone harvesting and graft placement.

Control Group: The traditional free-hand technique is used without computer-guided assistance.

The study is designed to assess whether the digital, guided approach enhances horizontal bone gain, optimizes graft placement accuracy, reduces operative time, and lowers complication rates compared to the free-hand protocol.

The intervention involves preoperative 3D planning, surgical guide fabrication, and intraoperative bone harvesting and grafting. Both groups receive autogenous cortical bone blocks harvested from the mandibular symphysis and secured at the recipient site with mini screws. Bone particulate (autogenous + xenograft, 1:1 ratio) is used to augment volume.

Primary outcome is the amount of horizontal bone gain measured via CBCT superimposition at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include accuracy of graft placement, and surgical time.

This single-center, single-blinded equivalence trial uses a 1:1 randomization ratio. Ethical approval has been obtained, and participants provide informed consent prior to enrollment. The results are expected to inform surgical best practices and improve the predictability of mandibular ridge augmentation procedures.

Being tested
Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Study Group), Free-Hand Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Control group)

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Study Group)Device

    This study utilizes two patient-specific 3D-printed surgical guides to enhance precision in bone harvesting and fixation for horizontal ridge augmentation in the anterior mandible.

    Chin Harvesting Guide

    This tooth-supported guide is placed on the exposed mandibular symphysis to ensure accurate osteotomy cuts for harvesting a cortical bone shell.

    It directs piezo drill cuts (superior, inferior, and vertical) to minimize errors and prevent damage to vital structures.

    Bone Block Fixation Guide

    After harvesting, this guide helps in precise fixation of the cortical shell onto the recipient site.

    It includes pre-planned screw holes to ensure stable positioning of the graft and improve surgical accuracy.

    These guides enhance precision, reduce surgical time, and improve graft stability, making the computer-guided technique superior to the traditional free-hand method.

  • Free-Hand Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Control group)Procedure or surgery

    In this group, horizontal ridge augmentation of the anterior mandible is performed using a free-hand technique without computer-guided assistance. Autogenous cortical bone is harvested from the mandibular symphysis using a conventional osteotomy performed manually. The harvested cortical shell is adapted and fixated at the recipient site using titanium mini screws, based on the surgeon's clinical judgment and intraoperative assessment. Bone particulate grafting using a 1:1 ratio of autogenous bone and xenograft material is packed into the defect to enhance volume stability. This approach may result in increased variability in graft positioning, longer surgical time, and higher dependence on surgeon experience.

Study groups in NCT06942013
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Full Digital WorkflowExperimentalStudy Group (Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique) Bone harvesting and fixation are done using patient-specific guides , chin harvesting guide and bone block fixation guide. Uses a 3D-printed, patient-specific surgical guide for precise bone harvesting and placement. Piezo drill cuts are guided to ensure accurate osteotomy and graft positioning. The labial cortical shell is fixated using pre-planned screw holes for better stability. Bone particulate grafting (autogenous + xenograft, 50:50) is packed into the defect. Enhances accuracy, reduces surgical time, and minimizes complications
Receives: Device: Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Study Group)
Free Hand ProtocolActive comparatorControl Group (Free-Hand Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique) Bone harvesting and fixation are done manually, relying on the surgeon's experience. Osteotomy is performed free-hand, increasing the risk of inaccurate graft placement. The labial cortical shell is manually fixated, potentially leading to misalignment. Bone particulate grafting (autogenous + xenograft, 50:50) is used, similar to the study group. Higher risk of human error, longer surgical time, and greater variability in outcomes
Receives: Procedure: Free-Hand Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Control group)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Alveolar Ridge Horizontal Bone Gain

    measure the amount of horizontal bone gain achieved at the anterior mandibular ridge following horizontal ridge augmentation using either the computer-guided autogenous cortical shell technique or the free-hand technique.

    Measured: (CBCT) scans are taken preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively to evaluate bone changes. Superimposition of CBCT images is performed using Mimics 21.0 software (Materialise, Belgium) to assess bone augmentation

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Accuracy of the Computer-assisted guide in the study group

    CBCT superimposition is used to compare preoperative and postoperative ridge dimensions to determine how precisely the bone graft was placed.

    Measurement Tool: CBCT scans analyzed with Mimics 21.0 software

    Measured: Measured at: 6 months postoperatively using CBCT scans.

  2. Intraoperative Time

    The total surgical duration for each technique is recorded to assess time efficiency.

    Measurement Tool: Stopwatch or surgical records. Unit of Measurement: Minutes.

    Measured: During surgery by using a stopwatch.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Apr 2025
  2. Study start1 May 2025 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 May 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Sep 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Type: Parallel, two arms, randomized controlled trial Allocation ratio: 1:1 Framework: Equivalence
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
20 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06942013
Sponsor's protocol ID
Cortical Shell Technique
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
16 Mar 2025
Last updated
24 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Computer-Guided Autogenous Cortical Shell Technique (Study Group) in people with Horizontal Ridge Deficiency, run by Cairo University.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Alveolar Ridge Horizontal Bone Gain (time frame: (CBCT) scans are taken preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively to evaluate bone changes. Superimposition of CBCT images is performed using Mimics 21.0 software (Materialise, Belgium) to assess bone augmentation). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Apr 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 6 Nov 2026.

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