Titanium foil-guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of periimplant bone defects

Resorbable membranes are often not stable enough for complete corrections of deep periimplant bony defects. Nonresorbable polytetrafluoroethylene membranes require removal after osseous healing. In this study the use of titanium foils for reconstruction of deficient alveolar ridge structures around dental implants is described. The advantages and disadvantages of the titanium foil-guided bone regeneration technique is discussed. Forty-two patients with deep intra alveolar periimplant defects were treated by means of a titanium foil-guided bone regeneration technique. Autologous bone in combination with a demineralized freezedried bone allotransplant was used for augmentation. Clinical and radiological control was performed 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. In 37 cases, the average 12-month postoperative increase in bone was 4.2 mm, and the decrease in augmented bone was only 4% compared with the postoperative situation. Acceptable augmentative results were achieved in 88% of patients after the first operative treatment using a titanium foil-guided bone regeneration technique for reconstruction of periimplant defects and in all patients after the second augmentation. The main problem with foil loss was denudation and infection 6 weeks after surgery.