A bone distractor, preferably an alveolar ridge distractor, having first aid second bone plates sized and configured to engage opposing bone segments and an interconnecting mechanism operatively associated with the first and second bone plates such that rotation of an activation screw causes the second bone plate to move with respect to the first bone segment. The distractor may also a housing having a first housing member operatively associated with the rat b>n5 plate and a second housing member operatively associated with the second bone plate, the second housing member being pivotally coupled to the first housing member such that the orientation of the second bone plate may be varied with respect to the first bone plate. Moreover, the second housing member may include a releasable closure cap so that the second bone plate may be easily removed and/or replaced, the second bone plate being provided in varying shapes and sizes.
