Histologic Evidence of the Ability of Dermal Allograft to Function as a Barrier During Guided Bone Regeneration: A
Dennis P Tarnow1, Paul Fletcher1
1Department of Periodontology, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York, NY.
Introduction:
Clinical reports have been published using acellular dermal matrix (ADM) as a barrier for guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first known case report that demonstrates histologically in humans that it can successfully function in this capacity.
Case Presentation:
GBR, using tenting screws, bovine bone xenograft, cancellous allograft, and acellular dermal allograft as a membrane, was performed to augment a significant horizontal and vertical ridge deficiency in the area of teeth #7 and #8 of a 47-year-old female. At the time of reentry, a bone-like material was evident to the top of the screw heads. Before the placement of an implant in tooth site #8, a sample of the calcified material was removed from the edentulous ridge over tooth site #7 and was sent for histologic analysis.
Conclusions:
The histologic results confirmed that formation of new bone was evident, indicating that ADM likely functioned as a barrier and allowed for GBR during the healing process. Because dermal matrix is also successfully used for soft tissue ridge augmentation, practitioners now have an allograft material that can serve a dual function and is available in unlimited supply.
