SUPRACRESTAL BONE REGENERATION AROUND DENTAL IMPLANTS USING A CALCIUM-CARBONATE AND A FIBRIN-FIBRONECTIN SEALING SYSTEM - CLINICAL AND HISTOLOGIC EVIDENCE

This study evaluated a new surgical technique for the treatment of an alveolar ridge deficiency in 11 patients. Twenty-two implants were pla ced 15 of which presented with a combination of supracrestal and dehis cence kinds of defects, and seven presented only supracrestal bone los s. Surgical procedures were performed utilizing a combination of the r esorbable spacemaking material calcium carbonate stabilized with a fib rin-fibronectin sealing system and the immediate placement of titanium dental implants. After implant placement the mean height for supracre stal and dehiscence defects measured 2.57 +/- 1.41 mm and 2.47 +/- 1.5 4 mm respectively The defects were filled with calcium carbonate and a fibrin-fibronectin sealing system, and the flaps were sutured, avoidi ng any compression of the treated area. Healing was uneventful in ail instances. At second-stage surgery at 6 months, a hard bonelike tissue was detectable at the defect sites. Histologic examination of four de fects confirmed the presence of newly formed bone and revealed residua l particles of calcium carbonate. There was a mean gain of 2.05 +/- 1. 47 mm in the supracrestal defects and of 2.23 +/- 1.62 mm in the dehis cences. The results indicated that calcium carbonate, combined with a fibrin-fibronectin sealing system is a viable alternative in the treat ment of supracrestal and dehiscence bony defects.