The Long-Term Esthetic and Radiographic Outcome of Implants Placed in the Anterior Maxilla after Ridge Preservation, Combining Bovine Xenograft with Collagen Matrix.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the long-term esthetic and radiographic results of implants placed in the anterior maxilla after ridge preservation, combining bovine xenograft with collagen matrix. Fifteen patients who required a single tooth extraction because of fracture, root resorption, or extended caries were included in the study. After extraction, all sites were grafted using Deproteinized Bovine Bone Mineral (DBBM) with collagen and covered by a resorbable collagen matrix (CM). Five months after socket grafting, implants were successfully installed. The implant diameter range was between 3.8 and 4.2 mm. All patients were monitored for over 7 years, both clinically and radiographically. Three independent observers evaluated the long-term esthetic outcome, employing the Pink Esthetic Score (PES) technique. Over a period exceeding seven years, a 100% survival rate was observed for all 15 implants, with minimal marginal bone loss. The mean PES was 11.40 (±1.44) at the first assessment and 11.38 (±1.63) at the second assessment. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.978), and the scores of PES measurements indicated excellent esthetic results even after seven years. Based on these preliminary results, it seems that placing collagen bovine bone in a fresh extraction socket, covered with a collagen matrix, can preserve the alveolar ridge and provide long-term stable esthetic results.

Multidimensional 3D-Printed Scaffolds and Regeneration of Intrabony Periodontal Defects: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of regenerative techniques in periodontology involves tailoring tissue engineering principles to suit the oral cavity's unique environment. Advancements in computer-assisted technology, specifically utilizing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), enabled the fabrication of 3D-printed scaffolds. The current review aims to explore whether 3D-printed scaffolds are effective in promoting osteogenesis in patients with periodontal defects. METHODS: A thorough exploration was undertaken across seven electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Web of Science, Ovid) to detect pertinent research in accordance with specified eligibility criteria, aligning with the PRISMA guidelines. Two independent reviewers undertook the screening and selection of manuscripts, executed data extraction, and evaluated the bias risk using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for non-randomized clinical trials and SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. RESULTS: Initially, 799 articles were identified, refined by removing duplicates. After evaluating 471 articles based on title and abstract, 18 studies remained for full-text assessment. Eventually, merely two manuscripts fulfilled all the eligibility criteria concerning human trials. Both studies were prospective non-randomized clinical trials. Moreover, 11 animal studies were also included. CONCLUSIONS: The use of multidimensional, 3D-printed, customized scaffolds appears to stimulate periodontal regeneration. While the reported results are encouraging, additional studies are required to identify the ideal characteristics of the 3D scaffold to be used in the regeneration of periodontal tissue.

The role of rhFGF-2 in periodontal defect bone fill: A systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Growth factors have been used with success in periodontal regeneration, especially in intrabony defects. Among those, the recombined form of fibroblast growth factor-2 (rhFGF-2) has been also examined. OBJECTIVE: To address the outcomes of periodontal regeneration using rhFGF-2 alone or in combination with bone substitutes primarily in terms of Radiographic Bone Fill (RBF%) and secondary Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), and Probing Attachment Levels (PAL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search in MEDLINE and EMBASE using the Ovid interface was conducted from 2000 up to and including the 12th of November 2022. Starting from the initially identified 1289 articles, 34 studies were selected for further analysis. Following the full-text screening, 7 of the 34 studies met the inclusion criteria and thus were included in the systematic review after assessing their quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). Clinical and radiographic results (bone gain, pocket depth, and clinical attachment level) after the application of FGF-2 alone or in combination with different carriers were studied in patients with intrabony defects of at least one wall and pocket depth greater than 4 mm. RESULTS: Primary outcomes: RBF% was higher in studies using a combination of rhFGF-2 and bone substitutes (74.6 ± 20.0%) compared to others using the specific growth factor alone or negative controls (22.7 ± 20.7%). In terms of secondary outcomes, the analysis failed to show an additional benefit from the use of the rhFGF-2 alone or in combination with bone substitutes. CONCLUSION: rhFGF-2 can improve RBF% in the treatment of periodontal defects, especially when it is used in combination with a bone substitute.

Evaluation of a Double Layer Technique to Enhance Bone Formation in Atrophic Alveolar Ridge: Histologic Results of a Pilot Study.

The atrophic alveolar ridge has been a challenge in implant dentistry; various techniques using the principle of guided bone regeneration (GBR) have been applied in the past 2 decades.The aim of this study was to introduce and evaluate-clinically, histologically, and radiographically-a novel technique of regenerating a new bone in the atrophic alveolar ridge, which is based on the GBR principles, the double layer technique (DLT). Six patients with partially edentulous jaws with a residual bone width less than or equal to 4 mm in the maxilla were subjected to GBR. The sites were grafted using a DLT. At first, sites were grafted with allogenic bone and then a second layer of deproteinized bovine bone was placed. Next, grafted sites were covered with a resorbable membrane tucked with 2 titanium pins. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were obtained before and 5 months after DLT. In the latter case and during implant site preparation, trephine biopsies were obtained and processed for histologic and histomorphometric evaluation. In all cases, implants were successfully installed and primary stability was established. Implant diameter ranged from 3.8 to 4.1 mm. In all cases, radiographic findings showed increased alveolar ridge width before and after surgery. The new tissues consisted mostly of a variable amount of new trabecular bone, some loose connective tissue, blood vessels, and occasional inflammatory cells. All 15 implants placed had 100% survival rate after a 5-year follow-up. On the basis of these preliminary results, it seems that the double layer GBR technique may achieve satisfactory results from a clinical, radiographic, and histologic perspective favoring placement of dental implants in the atrophic maxillary alveolar ridge.

PRGF as adjunct to DBB in maxillary sinus floor augmentation: histological results of a pilot split-mouth study.

BACKGROUND: Various technologies of autologous blood concentrates are currently evaluated for their potential to enhance bone formation. AIM: To report on the histological outcome of maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) with deproteinized bovine bone (DBB) in combination with chair-side prepared autologous platelet-rich growth factor (PRGF), in comparison to that with DBB alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six partially edentulous patients with ≤ 3-mm residual bone height bilaterally in the posterior maxilla were subjected to MSFA with the lateral window technique, using DBB in combination with PRGF (PRGF System1 Vitoria, Spain) on one side or DBB alone on the contralateral side. Cylindrical biopsies from the augmented sinuses were collected during implant installation, ca. 6 months post-MSFA, and subjected to non-decalcified histological and histomorphometric evaluation. RESULTS: The collected biopsies varied in length (range 3.5-9.9 mm); consequently, the portion of the biopsy representing augmented tissues also varied (range 2.3-14.6 mm2). New bone formation with a trabecular appearance and numerous DBB particles in contact with the new bone or with loose connective tissue were observed. No differences in the relative volumes of bone formation were found in sinuses augmented with DBB + PRGF or DBB alone 6 months after MSFA (35.6 ± 8.26 mm and 37.8 ± 3.15 mm, respectively). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In conclusion, based on these preliminary results, PRGF as adjunct to DBB for MSFA, except from improved handling during the operation, does not appear to enhance nor interfere with bone formation inside the human sinus 6 months after MSFA, compared with the use of DBB alone.

Evaluation of autogenous PRGF+ß-TCP with or without a collagen membrane on bone formation and implant osseointegration in large size bone defects. A preclinical in vivo study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the adjunctive use of a collagen membrane enhances bone formation and implant osseointegration in non-contained defects grafted with chair-side prepared autologous platelet-rich growth factor (PRGF) adsorbed on a ß-TCP particulate carrier. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Large box-type defects (10 × 6 mm; W × D) were prepared in the edentulated and completely healed mandibles of six Beagles dogs. An implant with moderately rough surface was placed in the center of each defect leaving the coronal 6 mm of the implant not covered with bone. The remaining defect space was then filled out with chair-side prepared autologous PRGF adsorbed on ß-TCP particles and either covered with a collagen membrane (PRGF/ß-TCP+CM) (6 defects) or left without a membrane (PRGF/ß-TCP) (5 defects). RESULTS: Histology 4 months post-op showed new lamellar and woven bone formation encompassing almost entirely the defect and limited residual ß-TCP particles. Extent of osseointegration of the previously exposed portion of the implants varied, but in general was limited. Within the defect, new mineralized bone (%) averaged 43.2 ± 9.86 vs. 39.9 ± 13.7 in the PRGF/ß-TCP+CM and PRGF/ß-TCP group (P = 0.22) and relative mineralized bone-to-implant contact (%) averaged 26.2 ± 16.45 vs. 35.91 ± 24.45, respectively (P = 0.5). First, bone-to-implant contact from the implant top was 4.1 ± 1.5 and 3.2 ± 2.3 (P = 0.9), in the PRGF/ß-TCP+CM and PRGF/ß-TCP group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of chair-side prepared autologous PRGF adsorbed on a ß-TCP carrier in non-contained peri-implant defects resulted in large amounts of bone regeneration, but osseointegration was limited. Provisions for GBR with a collagen membrane did not significantly enhance bone regeneration or implant osseointegration.