Search

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a novel surgical procedure: the interproximally connected flap. This technique is intended to prevent membrane exposure by maintaining the integrity of the interproximal soft tissues in the treatment of deep intrabony defects, in conjunction with the use of nonresorbable barrier membranes, thereby increasing the space for hard and soft tissue regeneration. Eleven patients (11 defects) were treated with this new flap design, which avoided any type of incisions in the interproximal tissues of the defect-associated papillae. Primary closure over the titanium-reinforced membrane was achieved in 100% of defects at baseline, with no exposures occurring during the 4-month healing period. The difference between baseline and 1-year probing pocket depths and probing attachment levels was clinically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this investigation was to determine the fate of thin buccal bone encasing the prominent roots of maxillary anterior teeth following extraction. Resorption of the buccal plate compromises the morphology of the localized edentulous ridge and makes it challenging to place an implant in the optimal position for prosthetic restoration. In addition, the use of Bio-Oss as a bone filler to maintain the form of the edentulous ridge was evaluated. Nine patients were selected for the extraction of 36 maxillary anterior teeth. Nineteen extraction sockets received Bio-Oss, and seventeen sockets received no osteogenic material. All sites were completely covered with soft tissue at the conclusion of surgery. Computerized tomographic scans were made immediately following extraction and then at 30 to 90 days after healing so as to assess the fate of the buccal plates and resultant form of the edentulous sites. The results were assessed by an independent radiologist, with a crest width of 6 mm regarded as sufficient to place an implant. Those sockets treated with Bio-Oss demonstrated a loss of less than 20% of the buccal plate in 15 of 19 test sites (79%). In contrast, 12 of 17 control sockets (71%) demonstrated a loss of more than 20% of the buccal plate. In conclusion, the Bio-Oss test sites outperformed the control sites by a significant margin. No investigator was able to predict which site would be successful without the grafting material even though all were experienced clinicians. This leads to the conclusion that a patient has a significant benefit from receiving grafting materials at the time of extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this classification of bone defects related to dental implant placement is to help clinicians accurately discuss proposed treatment regimens and organize treatment for clinical correction. A further goal of this effort to categorize bone defects requiring bone augmentation for implant placement is to standardize terminology to allow for more accurate dental communication. The five most encountered categories of bony defects are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biologic principle of guided tissue regeneration has been expanded to mucogingival surgery, using resorbable barrier membranes for the treatment of gingival recessions. Space provision is one of the main problems in non-space making defects, considering the softness of resorbable membranes. In this study, we tested the possibility to create and maintain a secluded space using a slow, long-lasting resorbable suture so that a resorbable dome device could support the barrier and immediately become a space-making device. Ten purely mucogingival recessions in ten patients were treated. At 12 months, the results were evaluated. In five subjects the gingival margin was within 1 mm of the cementoenamel junction, in four patients it was within 2 mm, and in one case a residual gingival recession was present (where the membrane became exposed). The mean root coverage obtained was 70.4%, while the mean gain of clinical attachment was 3.3 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]