Head of the King Abdulaziz University Oral Basic and Clinical Sciences Department Dr. Ali Thafeed Al-Ghamdi, who is also assistant professor and consultant in periodontics and implant dentistry and head of periodontic department, received the copyright for his novel technique from the American Bureau of Patents and Inventions, the highest body for copyrights in the US, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Al-Ghamdi has also completed all experiments related to his inventions and wrote a final report on the surgical treatment. The new surgical technique developed by him and called Tunnel Technique will make considerable contribution to end difficulties countered while doing block graft surgery for diseased jaws, Al-Ghamdi said in a statement.

The new tunnel technique involves soft tissue preparation prior to symphyseal (fibrocartilaginous fusion between two bones) block graft.

His research reached a turning point when he noticed a fast healing tendency in patients who underwent allografts (transplant of cells, tissues or organs) for soft tissue augmentation prior to mono-cortical block graft compared to those who underwent the block graft before the allograft. That is why his research focused on allograft before block graft.

The sample patients underwent an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) allograft for soft tissue augmentation prior to mono-cortical block graft. The operated patients recovered without suffering any complications. On the other hand, three out of 10 people who underwent allograft after bone graft had developed several complications.

The success of the new technique was attested by a team of highly qualified dental surgeons who examined the patients who underwent allograft before bone

graft.

“The Tunnel Technique proves that Saudi doctors are not behind any other doctors in the world. This technique will contribute to minimize any complication during bone or jaw graft,” Al-Ghamdi said.

He added that jaw and bone grafts are highly expensive and not every patient will be able to afford it.