Management and Prevention of Complications of Guided Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Abstract Guided bone regeneration using titanium-reinforced expanded teflon non-absorbable membranes (e-PTFE) has proven, through rigorous studies on many occasions, that it is a safe and predictable method to achieve bone growth at mandible and maxilla level, both vertically and horizontally. However, the technique itself is one that requires special operative skills and is not without postoperative complications. The purpose of this paper is to review most of these postoperative complications, their management and the key operative elements that help preventing them. Complications are presented both from the perspective of the meta-analysis performed from the present literature and from the point of view of the author’s personal experience, personal casuistry being presented. This paper will discuss all this starting with the complications without negative impact on the bone regeneration such as, late exposure of the membrane and ending with the most serious ones, such as the suppuration of the augmented anatomical regions. All of these can be avoided or minimized by using a correct operating technique. In addition, once installed, we can minimize the negative effects on bone regeneration by a proper management applied at the right time.