GUIDED BONE REGENERATION OF BONE DEFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLANTS - AN EVIDENCE-BASED OUTCOME ASSESSMENT

Guided bone regeneration is a new technique that evolved following the guided tissue regeneration procedure for regeneration of lost periodo ntium. The objective of guided bone regeneration is to promote bone fo rmation in osseous deformities either before or in conjunction with en dosseous implant placement. Osseous defects consist mainly of extracti on sites, dehiscences or fenestrations, and localized ridge deformitie s. In addition, bone defects may either provide natural spacemaking or be nonspacemaking. A plethora of publications indicate that the guide d bone regeneration technique can be used successfully in ail types of defects. Nonspacemaking defects usually require bone graft materials to assist in space maintenance and enhance bone formation. Fixation pi ns are also used, either with or without graft materials, in this rega rd. The scientific literature on guided bone regeneration was reviewed by a task force to determine techniques proven to increase predictabi lity relative to successful patient outcomes and to develop specific e vidence based diagnostic and treatment decision trees.