An Experimental Study on Clinical Application of Bioabsorbable Collagen Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the availability of a bioabsorbable collagen barrier-membrane for guided bone regeneration (GBR). Subjects were 18 beagle dogs and materials were dome-shaped membranes. Prior to experiments, both first molars in the mandible were extracted. After 3 months of healing, mucoperiosteal flaps were reflected and experimental defects created in the alveolar bone. Theexperimental bone defect on one side was completely covered with the membrane (experimental group). On the contralateral side, the mucoperiosteal flap was repositioned without the membrane (controls). After 6 and 12 weeks postoperation, bone formation was determined by computer-assisted digital subtraction image analysis and histologically. The experimental group showd greater bone regeneration than controls under digital subtraction imaging. In controls, original bone crests were resorbed and bone formation at the bottom of the defect was slight. In the experimental group, slight resorption of original bone crests was observed and the defect was almost completely regenerated with new bone. This snggests that hioahsorhahle collagen membrane is feasibly biocompatible and provides suitable space for bone regeneration. J. Jpn. Soc. Periodontol., 43: 141-154, 2001.