Dental regenerative device made of porous metal

1. A porous structure configured for use as one or more ridge augmentation devices for placement in a maxilla or a mandible of a patient, the porous structure comprising:

a first side section;

a second side section;

a top section extending between and connecting the first side section and the second side section, the top section having a curved shape and defining a plurality of arch segments, an opening defined between each pair of adjacent arch segments and configured for receiving an implant, at least one of the arch segments having a detachment point, wherein the first side section, the second side section, and the top section being formed as a monolithic porous body; and

for each detachment point, a first slot formed in the first side section and a second slot formed in the second side section, each of the first and second slots aligned with the corresponding detachment point, each of the first and second slots extending an entire height of the first and second side sections, respectively;

wherein a selected portion of the monolithic porous body is detachable from a remaining portion of the monolithic porous body at any of the detachment points to decrease a longitudinal length of the monolithic porous body, the selected portion configured for use as a ridge augmentation device.

2. The porous structure of claim 1 , wherein the porous structure has a curvature along at least a portion of an overall length of the porous structure.

3. The porous structure of claim 1 , wherein the first side section includes a plurality of apertures, each aperture configured for receiving a fastener to attach the porous structure or a portion thereof to an alveolar ridge of a patient.

4. The porous structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the arch segments has a different height than at least one of the other arch segments.

5. The porous structure of claim 1 , wherein the porous structure is tantalum.

6. An apparatus configured for use as one or more ridge augmentation devices, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of units connected to one another, each of said plurality of units comprising:

a first side section;

a second side section; and

a top section extending between and connecting the first and second side sections, the top section including an opening configured for receiving an implant, wherein the opening extends into at least one of a portion of the first side section and a portion of the second side section;

wherein the first side sections of adjacent units are separated by a first slot and the second side sections of adjacent units are separated by a second slot, and a detachment point is formed in the top section between each pair of corresponding first and second slots,

wherein the plurality of units are formed as a monolithic porous body, and

wherein the detachment point allows a selected number of said plurality of units to be detached from the monolithic porous body for use as a ridge augmentation device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the top section of each of said plurality of units has a curved shape.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is formed of a porous metal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the porous metal is tantalum.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one unit of the plurality of units includes an aperture in at least one of the first and second side sections.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the aperture is configured for receiving a fastener to attach the ridge augmentation device to an alveolar ridge of a patient.