Vertical guided bone-graft augmentation in a new canine mandibular model

Using the mandibular inferior border of four fox hounds from an extraoral approach, six high-profile Brånemark implants were placed in each animal and bone grafted. Graft materials studied included demineralized freeze-dried allograft with and without irradiation sterilization (3.8 x 10(4) Gy), corticocancellous iliac autograft, blood clot, and a control. Corticocancellous grafts were studied with and without expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) barriers. The barrier function improved both graft volume incorporated and bone-implant interface contact. The autograft performed better than the allograft. Irradiation of the allograft did not appear to affect graft performance. The barrier functioned to improve graft incorporation for augmentation and interface contact and gives credence to the use of barriers in conjunction with vertical augmentation grafting of jawbone.