Enhanced Lateral Bone Augmentation With a Perforated Resorbable Barrier Membrane

Area of Science:

• Periodontal regeneration
• Dental implantology
• Bone augmentation techniques

Background:

• Significant horizontal ridge deficiency (<5 mm) necessitates advanced bone augmentation for dental implant site development.
• Guided bone regeneration principles are crucial for successful bone augmentation.
• The use of a perforated resorbable barrier membrane (PRBM) is explored for enhancing lateral bone augmentation.

Observation:

• A 41-year-old female with a missing maxillary right lateral incisor presented with significant horizontal ridge deficiency.
• Horizontal bone augmentation was performed using a mineralized mixed corticocancellous allograft and a PRBM.
• Clinical and radiographic assessment showed a lateral bone gain of 5.0 mm.

Findings:

• Histological analysis revealed 38.1% new vital bone (NVB) formation, 38.9% residual graft (RG) particles, and 23.1% connective tissue (CT) infiltration.
• The achieved 5.0 mm lateral bone gain significantly exceeds the 3.5 mm average reported in previous studies.
• Implant placement was successful without the need for further bone augmentation.

Implications:

• The use of a PRBM appears to significantly enhance lateral bone augmentation compared to previous methods.
• This case report suggests PRBMs are a promising tool for dental implant site development in cases of severe bone deficiency.
• Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy of PRBMs in enhancing lateral bone augmentation.