Supracrestal bone regeneration: a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of regenerating bone in patients with advanced horizontal bone loss. Demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts (DFDBA) in particle, strut, and laminar forms were used in combination with guided tissue regeneration. The cortical struts and strips were processed from long bones and were supplied in different widths and lengths. The strips were prepared in various thicknesses ranging from 100 to 500 microns; the struts ranged from 1 to 3 mm thick. These 2 materials provided structural support for the retention of DFDBA particles supracrestally, and they supported the gingival flap as a space maintainer, preventing the collapse of the tissue onto the roots and existing bone. The results indicated successful supracrestal regeneration of horizontal defects when combining existing techniques and materials. The mean attachment gain for the 7 patients studied ranged from 2.6 to 3.0 mm.