All About Guided Bone Regeneration

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a surgical procedure used to restore the bone structure needed for dental implants. New bone is grown using barrier membranes in areas where there is insufficient bone for the implant. Multiple studies have shown that regenerated bones have over a 90 percent success rate for long-term stability.

Why Guided Bone Regeneration?

When a tooth is extracted, bone resorption often occurs. This causes difficulties when it comes to placing dental implants and the long-term stability is negatively affected. Using guided bone regeneration allows for an increase in the bone volume of the area where the implant will be placed and allows for long-term stability.

Guided Bone Regeneration Principles

Guided bone regeneration is based on the same principles of guided tissue regeneration (GTR). The surgical process includes the placement of a membrane between the gums and the alveolar bone, the bone that holds the tooth sockets allowing the tooth to be held in place. By surgically placing the membrane between the gums and alveolar bone, the faster healing tissues of the gums are kept from entering the defected space which will allow the cells that have the potential for regeneration to populate that area. This allows the regeneration of both lost soft and hard tissues.

How is Guided Bone Regeneration Used?

There are several reasons why guided bone regeneration may be recommended. These include to correct local alveolar ridge deficiencies, to fill in the bone around immediate implants, to correct bone defects that are associated with failing implants, to heal residual bone lesions, and to aid in the repair of sinus membrane perforations. In each of these situations, new bone is needed in the affected area, usually for the placement of dental implants. Guided bone regeneration has proven to be one of the most successful ways to grow the new bone needed to solve these issues.

Guided Bone Regeneration Used for Dental Implants

When a tooth is extracted, often the bone is resorbed, meaning that the bone is lost because of the body’s natural action of removing mineralized tissue. In order to place a dental implant, a new bone needs to exist in the affected area. One of the ways to do this is through guided bone regeneration. A guided bone regeneration can be achieved through two ways; one-stage lateral augmentation and a two-stage bone augmentation.

One-Stage Lateral Augmentation

A one-stage lateral augmentation is typically done for dehiscence or fenestration defects in the area where an implant is installed. This is a common surgical complication in which the surgical area lacks the necessary bone volume. The procedure is done to cover the exposed implant surface with a new bone. This procedure involves placing a bone graft over the affected area and covering the defect with a barrier membrane which extends two to three millimeters on all sides. For this procedure to work, the membrane must be in a stable position so the healing is not interrupted.

Two-Stage Bone Augmentation

This procedure should be done prior to an implant being placed and is meant to be done in areas where the implant can find stability. In these situations, it is imperative that the bone volume is increased prior to the placement of the implant. The two primary situations in which this procedure is performed is when there has long been a lack of teeth with a deficient ridge or when there is a lack of bone due to tooth extraction. Once the socket is packed, a barrier membrane covers the bone graft and sutures are used to closed the area.

If you are in need of a dental implant to replace an extracted or lost tooth, a guided bone regeneration may need to be used to ensure a successful implant placement. This process will place a new bone where the previous bone was resorbed. Having a bone for the implant is vital for the success of the implant, often making this procedure necessary. Studies into guided bone regeneration have shown that this procedure has a consistently high success rate of over 90 percent. Vero Implants and Periodontics use the latest techniques and procedures to ensure a successful treatment. If you are in need of treatment for periodontal disease, seek the help of a board-certified periodontist at Vero Implants and Periodontics.