Bone ridge defects resulting from periodontal disease require complex therapeutic management regardless of the prosthetic approach chosen for the edentulous area. The total or partial restoration of the bone crest’s integrity is an essential step in the periodontal treatment plan, being necessary when the remaining bone volume, destroyed by periodontal disease, is insufficient to support the removable components of hybrid prosthetic restorations or (most often) stable and esthetic dental implants.

Attempts to augment insufficient bone volume have existed since time immemorial; the results, however, have not been consistent from the outset. The evolution of biomaterials used in bone regeneration has come a long way, from simple fillers to intelligent structures capable of biologically interacting with the body. In addition, controlling the success factors of regenerative procedures—graft stability, graft vascularization, and soft tissue management—can contribute to therapeutic success and transform a major edentulous ridge defect into a clinical situation conducive to restoring the integrity of the dental arch and its masticatory function.