Guided Bone Regeneration
Guided Bone Regeneration
INTRODUCTION
Dental implants require an adequate volume of bone to be successfully inserted and functional. Often, there is a lack of bone due to several reasons like previous infections, extracted teeth due to periodontitis, accidents etc. if the bone is deficient, the insertion of a dental implant is more difficult. Thanks to bone grafting, the area that is lacking bone may be fully or partially reconstructed to allow proper implant placement. This gives you back “the original bone volume” allowing for a complete treatment. Lost bone can be reconstructed in various ways depending on the site, size of the bone defect and the quantity/quality of the gum tissue above it. The introduction of new biomaterials used to reconstruct bone has eliminated the need for autogenous (your own) bone and this has dramatically improved the post-operative morbidity.
A. Ridge Preservation (Socket Preservation):
Teeth Extractions are accompanied by a natural process of bone loss. In order to overcome and prevent this bone loss, Ridge preservation can be performed. This procedure involves the immediate bone augmentation on the day the tooth is extracted.
1. Tooth Extraction | 2. Socket is curetted and bone is exposed | 3. Insertion of foundation | 4. The socket is filled with foundation and it also covers the gingival surface | 5. Surrounding cells and capillaries infiltrate into the foundation. Peripheral gingiva extends into it. | 6. The extraction socket closes and socket is filled with augmented bone.
Once the tooth is extracted and the infection is removed, a bone graft is inserted in the extraction socket to preserve the bone volume and prevent the bone loss. The newly placed bone will soon start to incorporate with the native bone and will make the future implant insertion successful, easier and safer.
B. Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) with Dental Implants:
In situations where a dental implant is to be placed in an area where a minimal amount of bone is missing, the dental implant can be inserted with simultaneous bone augmentation. The dental implant is placed in the patient’s natural bone and a bone graft is placed on the areas with the minimal bone in order to cover the exposed implant and to ensure the successful osseointegration of the implant.
C. Guided Bone Regeneration/Ridge Augmentation:
In order for a dental implant to be a success, it is essential that the patient has an adequate amount of bone in the area where the implant will be inserted. Sometimes, when one or more teeth are lost, a depression in the gums and jawbone can be formed. This is formed because the jawbone no longer holds any teeth in place. This depression is not only unnatural looking but can also cause problems in replacing the missing tooth due to bone insufficiency. In the cases that the patient a deficient amount of bone to support the dental implants, a bone augmentation process is performed in which a bone graft is placed to increase the bone volume of the area. During this Augmentation procedure, the bone graft is placed in the deficient area. The bone graft can be either Autogenous (taken from the patient), or it can be a bone substitute (Synthetic or taken from animals). When the bone graft is placed, it is covered with a membrane to protect it and the area is allowed to heal for 6 months. This is a painless procedure and it is carried out in local anesthesia. At the 6 months, the area is ready, and the patient has enough bone in volume in order for the dental implants to be successfully placed.
