Poster 135: Alveolar Ridge Augmentation Utilizing Demineralized Bone Matrix Allograft

Abstract

Freeze dried demineralized bone products have been used for augmentation of alveolar ridge defects for years with varying success. Defect location and barrier membrane material have been identified as variables which affect the success of a particular graft. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a demineralized bone matrix allograft to augment various types of ridge defects for the placement of endosseous dental implants. Four hundred forty-nine ridge augmentations in 364 patients using demineralized bone matrix block impregnated with cortical chips, demineralized bone matrix paste or a combination of both were evaluated. Buccal and crestal ridge augmentations were performed in areas of insufficient alveolar bone height and width to allow an acceptable restorative position and primary stability of an endosseous dental implant. The augmentations also utilized a combination of barrier materials. The extent of buccolingual regeneration was deemed a “success” if implants of at least 4.1 mm diameter could be placed into the proposed site with at least 1 mm of facial/buccal bone thickness. Placement of a 4.1 mm diameter implant that required “patch” augmentation of a cervical dehiscence to achieve a buccal or facial bone thickness of at least 1mm was deemed a “partial success”. A “failure” occurred when a 4.1 mm diameter implant could not be placed in a desired location due to lack of osseous coverage of at least 1 mm over the implant surface. Apico-occlusal regeneration was a “success” if at least 8 mm of ridge height was achieved to provide long term support of the planned prosthesis. n/a Implants were successfully placed in 379 of 449 sites (84.4%). An additional 49 of 449 sites (10.9%) required patch grafting. Overall, 428 of 449 sites (95.3%) had implants placed with acceptable stability. This means 21/449 (4.7%) of the graft sites required additional grafting procedures prior to implant placement. A marked difference in success/partial success rate was also noted with the use of a barrier membrane (96.9%) versus no membrane (90.8%). The results of this study would suggest demineralized bone matrix is an effective material to augment alveolar bone height and width, especially in conjunction with a barrier membrane.