Clinical Applications of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 for Bone Augmentation Before Dental Implant...

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. They are involved in the differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells, and new bone is formed through osteoblastic induction. Therefore, BMPs are commonly implicated in bone remodeling and regeneration. Recombinant human BMP-2 with absorbable collagen sponge (rhBMP-2/ACS) as its carrier recently received Food and Drug Administration approval for clinical use in sinus augmentations and localized ridge preservation after extractions. This article discusses the clinical use of rhBMP-2/ACS for alveolar ridge repair after extraction and ridge augmentation procedures before dental implant placement.

Two clinical cases that required socket and ridge augmentation, before dental implant placement, were treated with rhBMP-2/ACS. In socket augmentation, rhBMP-2/ACS and 20% of mineralized cancellous and cortical bone allograft were used. For ridge augmentation, guided bone regeneration using titanium mesh with fixation pins and a mixture of rhBMP-2/ACS and mineralized bone allograft was performed. Clinical and radiographic evaluation of the treated areas after 6 months of healing showed excellent bone regeneration that facilitated subsequent implant placement. In addition, healing of soft tissue at rhBMP-2-grafted sites appeared to be accelerated.

rhBMP-2 can be an agent that is used to promote socket repair as well as ridge augmentation when combined with a small component of mineralized bone allograft.