Abstract: Objective: To study the effect of a new type of personalized titanium mesh in the aesthetic reconstruction of alveolar ridge defects in vivo. Methods: Six beagles were selected. According to three-dimensional modeling method, the mandible premolars and part of alveolar bone were virtually resented. Corresponding personalized titanium mesh was rebuilt and designed through software, and the finished products were checked the physical and chemical properties. Bilateral mandibular second and third premolars were extracted respectively. Bilateral mandibular bone defects were designed and reconstructed with bone powder + conventional titanium mesh (CTM group) and bone powder + individualized titanium mesh (PTM group). The operation time, membrane gingival exposure, and postoperative infection were recorded. Four months after surgery, titanium mesh was taken out, and the difference in alveolar ridge height was recorded. Meanwhile, the difference of volume and morphology of alveolar ridge between two methods was compared by micro-CT scanning. Results: The new personalized titanium mesh reduced the duration of GBR surgery by about 30 minutes. There were 2 cases of infection in the CTM group, while only 1 case in the PTM group, which showed a difference of 16.6% between two groups. Four months after surgery, the bone defect in PTM group showed the morphological structure of alveolar ridge. There was a statistically significant difference in alveolar ridge height between two groups (P<0.05). Micro-CT scanning confirmed the results. Conclusion: The new type of personalized titanium mesh has unique alveolar ridge morphology and good physical and chemical properties.

Key words: 3D printing, Titanium mesh, Bone defect, Guided bone regeneration