Alveolar ridge augmentation with Bio-Oss: A histologic study in humans

The aim of the present study was to investigate the healing of alveolar rid ge defects augmented with cancellous bovine bone mineral. In six partially edentulous patients, bone augmentation was necessary prior to implant place ment because of severe alveolar ridge resorption. The defect sites, ail loc ated in the maxilla, were filled with Bio-Oss and covered with the resorbab le collagen membrane Bio-Gide. Biopsies were obtained from the defect sites 6 to 7 months following grafting and were processed for ground sectioning. The histologic analysis revealed that the Bio-Oss particles occupied 31% o f the total biopsy area. An intimate contact between woven bone and Bio-Oss was detected along 37% of the particle surfaces. A mixed type of bone was found; it contained woven bone and parallel-fibered bone, which demonstrate s features of remodeling activity. Signs of resorption of the grafting mate rial were observed in the histologic sections, which indicates that the mat erial takes part in the remodeling process, it is suggested that Bio-Oss ma y be a very suitable material for staged localized ridge augmentation in hu mans.