Development and clinical application of titanium minipins for fixation of nonresorbable barrier membranes

Clinical applications of the principle of guided bone regeneration in oral and maxillofacial surgery include preimplant reconstruction of atrophied bone defects and coverage of endosseous implants that were incompletely covered by bone through primary intention. Nonresorbable polytetrafluoroethylene membranes are used. Over the past several years, the use of periosteal sutures to fix membranes has been supplemental or replaced by the use of metallic fixation systems. Five-year clinical results with a membrane pin set developed for fixation of such membranes are reported. Application of the titanium pin limits the relative movement between the membrane and surrounding bone and/or between and surrounding soft tissue flaps. Moreover, the titanium pin expands the range of applications for such membranes, particularly to topographically complicated bone defects at sites where clinically secure and biologically functioning placement of the membrane is not always easy.