Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Titanium mesh use for alveolar bone growth outcomes in dentistry
By Ng E et al.·2025·Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, United Kingdom·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Clinical Outcomes of Titanium Mesh for Alveolar Bone Augmentation: An Umbrella Review.
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how well titanium mesh works for helping to grow bone in areas where it might be lacking, specifically in the jaw. Researchers reviewed several studies and found that, on average, using titanium mesh resulted in about 4 millimeters of vertical bone growth and nearly 4 millimeters of horizontal growth. However, there was some variation in the results, especially when comparing higher-quality studies, which showed less bone growth than the average. One important thing to note is that about 25% of the cases had issues with the mesh being exposed, but even with that, there was usually enough bone growth for dental implants to be placed. Overall, while titanium mesh can help with bone growth, it does come with some risks that need to be considered.
Abstract
<h4>Objectives</h4>To critically evaluate the evidence derived from systematic reviews for titanium mesh as a bone augmentation method for alveolar ridge deficiencies.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>Five databases were searched for systematic reviews describing any interventions to increase the dimensions of the alveolar ridge using titanium mesh. Included reviews had to report on the primary outcome of vertical and/or horizontal bone gain after augmentation with titanium mesh. The methodological quality of the systematic reviews was assessed with the AMSTAR 2 tool, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated with GRADE.<h4>Results</h4>Eight systematic reviews were identified, including two with meta-analysis. Of the 51 index studies included in the reviews, 20 were RCTs. The weighted mean reported vertical bone gain was 4.05 mm, and horizontal gain was 3.96 mm. However, overlap of primary studies across included reviews limits the precision of these estimates. When stratified by review quality, the single high-quality review showed lower vertical and horizontal bone gain compared to the weighted mean. The average mesh exposure rate was 25%, although bone regeneration was usually still sufficient for implant placement.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Titanium mesh can be effective for bone regeneration but carries a notable risk of site exposure. When choosing the technique for bone augmentation, clinicians should balance achieving optimal bone regeneration with minimal complications to enhance patient care and surgical outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41369229