Clinical Uses of Osteotomes

Osteotomes can offer several significant advantages over the traditional graded series of drills. Osteotomes take advantage of the fact that bone is visco-elastic and can be compressed and manipulated. Compression creates a denser area for implant placement. Heat is a major detriment to osseointegration, but the osteotome technique does not generate heat. This technique also allows for greater tactile sensitivity. Three procedures are used: compaction, cortical floor elevation, and ridge expansion; these can be combined to facilitate implantation. If the practitioner recognized the properties of bone and understands how bone responds to manipulation, the techniques described here can aid in the preparation for the placement of dental implants with greater success.