Allogeneic Bone Block Grafts for Maxillary Alveolar Ridge Reconstruction: Evidence from a Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of allogenic bone block grafts in the reconstruction of the maxillary alveolar ridge.A comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was performed, complemented by manual searches. Studies included were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective clinical trials (non-RCTs) published up to December 2022, reporting outcomes of allogenic bone blocks used for maxillary alveolar ridge augmentation. The primary outcome measures were graft resorption, implant survival, and new bone formation following augmentation. Study quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. Thirteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed. The reported bone resorption ranged from 0.2 to 29.2 mm, while the overall implant survival rate across studies was 96.87%. On average, 25.83 mm (range: 18.6–33 mm) of newly formed compact bone tissue was observed, featuring viable osteocytes intimately associated with the remaining cancellous bone. The findings of this review suggest that allogenic bone block grafts represent an effective and dependable option for the reconstruction of atrophic maxillae.