Guided bone regeneration around single-tooth implants in the esthetic zone: a case series

The objective of this case series was to evaluate the clinical and histologic outcome of guided bone regeneration around simultaneously placed implants in sites with missing buccal bone walls. Eight weeks after tooth extraction, implants were inserted, and the sites were augmented in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions using a mineralized collagen bone substitute and a nonresorbable titanium-reinforced membrane. Six months later, small hard tissue biopsy specimens were harvested from the buccal bone walls at approximately mid-height of the original defect. The histologies revealed ongoing bone formation. Clinically, an adequate amount of hard and soft tissue volume had formed.