Use of lyodura for bone augmentation of osseous defects around dental implants

Background: Lyodura has been used in periodontology and maxillofacial surge ry to overcome different clinical conditions. The use of lyodura to induce new bone formation in humans has not been widely reported. The purpose of t his article is to describe the use of lyodura as a resorbable barrier to pr omote bone formation in osseous defects around dental implants. Methods: The study group consisted of 22 healthy patients (12 women and 10 men), with a mean age of 32 (range 20 to 45). A total of 44 implants (9 tit anium screw-type and 35 hydroxyapatite-coated cylinder implants) were place d. Of these, 27 implants were placed in the maxilla and 17 in the mandible. At 27 extraction sites bony vertical defects were measured on the buccal, lingual, mesial and distal sides of the implant. In the remaining 17 cases, where either immediate or staged implantation was performed, and a dehisce nce was present, its vertical length was measured from the alveolar crest. All bony defects were grafted with autogenous bone harvested from the tuber osity. Each site was covered with lyodura. Results: Healing was uneventful; no inflammation, infection, or soft tissue dehiscence was observed. At all extraction sites and in 76% of the dehisce nce defects, hard tissue appearing clinically similar to bone completely fi ned the defect. Of those defects not completely filled, a mean vertical bon e increase of 2.5 mm was recorded. A mean vertical bone increase of 2.6 mm was achieved at extraction sites and a mean increase of 2.79 mm was achieve d at dehiscence sites. Conclusions: Lyodura can safely and effectively be used for guided bone reg eneration at both extraction sites and for dehiscence defects.