Osteoconductive properties and efficacy of resorbable bioactive glass as a bone-grafting material

The height of the available bone between the alveolar ridge and the sinus is often insufficient for placing endosseous implants in the posterior maxilla. Subantral augmentation after sinus elevation can be performed using bone-grafting materials such as autogenous bone, allografts, and alloplasts. The properties and performance of a recently developed resorbable bioactive glass (BioGran) were investigated with regard to bioactivity and bone-forming capability. The bioactive glass was grafted into the sinus cavities of 25 patients and biopsies were taken after 7 months. The samples were examined by conventional histologic techniques, elemental composition and distribution assayed by an electron probe microanalyzer, and comparative biomechanical data for BioGran and bone tissue gathered. Histologic and biomechanical examination indicated bone formation in all cases, with biomechanical properties of the regenerated bone close to those of bone tissue. The results of this study suggest that BioGran exhibits osteoconductive properties and efficacy as an alloplastic bone-grafting material.