Recovery of alveolar bone by the guided bone regeneration technique

Bone defects associated with the removal of endosteal implants often create challenging problems for clinicians. The guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique has been recently used in the treatment of such defects, and promising results have been obtained. This report describes the use of Gore-Tex tissue augmentation material (GTAM) membranes after the removal of Bioceram screw implants in two patients who wore the implants for 10 years and seven years, respectively. After removal, the residual bone defects were treated by the GBR technique. Bone regeneration was confirmed in the defects around the newly placed implants, and decreased bone mass was avoided in both patients. In case 1, a free gingival graft was used to increase the area of attached gingiva around the implants, since the status of peri-implant soft tissue is also crucial to the outcome of therapy. This technique was very effective in maintaining an adequate width of attached gingiva.