Abstract
Placement of implants in regions where placement had been impossible has become possible by guided bone regeneration (GBR). Among the various GBR methods proposed, the one using the combination of a titanium-reinforced e-PTFE membrane and autogenous bone graft is expected to give good bone regeneration. In this study, we clinically examined the GBR method (staged approach) with the combination of a titanium-reinforced e-PTFE membrane and autogenous bone graft. The subjects were 7 patients who underwent the staged approach GBR at the PDI Saitama Dental Clinic, Meikai University School of Dentistry between 1999 and 2001. The 9 patients consisted of 4 patients who underwent the staged approach GBR using a titanium-reinforced e-PTFE membrane alone (group A) and 5 patients who underwent the staged approach GBR using a titanium-reinforced e-PTFE membrane and autogenous bone graft (group B). In group A, neogenetic tissues were mostly soft tissues, and the amounts of neogenetic hard tissues were 1.8±1.3 mm in the vertical direction(Coronal direction) and 1.9±2.2 mm in the horizontal direction (Buccal-Lingual direction). Therefore, it was necessary to perform GBR again at the time of embedding implants. In all patients of group B, regeneration of the alveolar bone was noted, and implants could be embedded by the ordinary method. The amounts of regenerated bones were 4.2±1.1 mm in the vertical direction and 7.1±2.5 mm in the horizontal direction. A thin layer of soft tissues with a thickness of less than 1 mm was noted immediately below the membrane. We concluded that the GBR method with the combination of a titanium-reinforced e-PTFE membrane and autogenous bone graft is clinically useful.
