Use of a Novel In Situ Hardening Biphasic Alloplastic Bone Grafting Material for Guided Bone Regeneration Around Dental Implants: A Prospective Case Series.

INTRODUCTION

The novel bioresorbable polymer poly (lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) coated biphasic calcium phosphate material (BCP) hardens into a stable and porous hard tissue scaffold when exposed to body fluids. The self-containable, stable bone graft material might be beneficial for facilitating guided bone regeneration (GBR) around dental implants, especially for a defect with an absence of bony wall(s). The aim of this prospective case series is to evaluate the post-surgical implant survival and success where the in situ hardening BCP was used for GBR around dental implants.

CASE SERIES

Ten patients received 13 implants with simultaneous bone augmentation. Dehiscence and/or fenestration type of bony defect was detected in nine surgical sites, and three surgical sites exhibited a suprabony defect. In nine out of the 13 implants, a membrane was used in conjunction with the bone grafting. Patients were evaluated at the day of the surgery as well as 2 weeks, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. All post-surgical wounds were uneventfully healed. Radiographic bone levels showed stability over time with an average bone loss/remodeling of 0.19 ± 0.6 mm (range, -0.5-1.5 mm) from implant placement to the last follow-up at 12 months. All implants survived after 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Implant placement with simultaneous bone grafting using the in situ hardening BCP, was shown to be a viable and safe procedure with stable clinical and radiographic results over the follow-up period. Further long-term studies are warranted, however, the combination of the ease of handling and the favorable results are promising.