Guided bone regeneration techniques have been successfully applied in the treatment of peri-implant bone defects and for increasing the width of the alveolar ridge. However, there was a lack of predictable results concerning supracrestal ridge augmentation. In order to achieve vertical bone apposition, titanium-reinforced membranes combined with miniscrews have been utilized. The clinical studies suggested that bone graft materials were a necessary adjunct for vertical bone regeneration. In animal investigations, bone substitute materials showed no additional benefit in facilitating vertical bone formation, especially when allograft was used. Among the barrier materials tested, nonresorbable membranes have been shown the most effective because they provide the greater amount of bone regeneration. The bioabsorbable barriers showed lack of spacemaking characteristics. The clinician must carefully assess the limitations of a biodegradable barrier when performing guided bone regeneration for supracrestal ridge augmentation.