Enhanced Lateral Bone Augmentation With a Perforated Resorbable Barrier Membrane

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report to describe the use of a perforated resorbable barrier membrane (PRBM) to enhance lateral bone augmentation for implant site development.

A 41-year-old female presented to the Advanced Specialty Education Program in Periodontics at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, for implant consultation regarding a missing maxillary right lateral incisor. The tooth had been lost as a result of trauma 10 years prior to presentation. Clinical examination and radiographs showed significant horizontal ridge deficiency (<5 mm) that supported a staged intervention. Horizontal bone augmentation was performed following guided bone regeneration principles using a mineralized mixed corticocancellous (70:30) allograft followed by a PRBM. A cone beam computed tomography scan was obtained before surgery and 8 months after treatment, from which volumetric width changes were quantified. A bone biopsy was obtained at the time of implant placement to measure new vital bone (NVB) formation, residual graft (RG) particles, and connective tissue (CT) formation. Dimensional width changes were assessed during reentry for implant placement. The lateral bone gain was 5.0 mm, clinically and radiographically. Histologically, the amount of NVB formation, RG particles, and CT infiltration was 38.1%, 38.9%, and 23.1%, respectively. Implant placement was uneventful, with no further need for bone augmentation.

Previous studies using similar techniques and regenerative materials have shown an average of 3.5 mm of horizontal bone augmentation. The use of a PRBM appeared to significantly enhance lateral bone augmentation. An ongoing clinical trial is underway to confirm these results.