Clinical study of guided bone regeneration with resorbable polylactide-co-glycolide acid membrane

The guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique is often applied to provide sufficient bone for ideal implant placement. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether GC membrane^®, which has already been used for guided tissue regeneration (GTR), can also be available for GBR. Twenty-three implants in 18 patients were evaluated in the study. All patients underwent implant placement with GBR using GC membrane^®. Cone-beam computed tomography was performed at 13-30 weeks after surgery and the amount of augmented bone was assessed. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) was measured at the second operation to evaluate implant stability. Although wound dehiscence was observed at 4 of 23 regions (17.4%), all wounds closed quickly without any events by additional antibiotic administration. GBR-induced bone augmentation of 0.70-2.56 mm horizontally and 0-6.82 mm vertically. Only 0.18 mm of bone recession was observed at 16-24 months after implant placement. GBR with GC membrane^® induced sufficient bone augmentation, leading to successful implant treatment. The present results suggest that GC membrane^® is available not only for GTR, but also for GBR.