Influence of blinded wound closure on the volume stability of different GBR materials: an in vitro cone‐beam computed tomographic examination

Abstract Objective To test whether the use of (i) particulated bone substitute + collagen membrane used for guided bone regeneration ( GBR ) of peri‐implant bone defects renders different results from (ii) particulated bone substitute + collagen membrane + fixation pins and from (iii) block bone substitute + collagen membrane with respect to the volume stability of the augmented region during suturing of mucosal flaps. Material and methods Twenty peri‐implant box‐shaped bone defects were created in 10 pig mandibles. Every bone defect was augmented once with each of the following GBR procedures: G ranulate (particulated xenograft + collagen membrane), G ranulate + P ins (particulated xenograft + collagen membrane + fixation pins), and B lock (block xenograft + collagen membrane). Cone‐beam computed tomography scans were obtained prior and after blinded wound closure. The horizontal thickness ( HT ) of the augmented region (bone substitute + membrane) was assessed at the implant shoulder ( HT 0 mm ) and at 1–5 mm apical to the implant shoulder ( HT 1 mm – HT 5 mm ). The changes of HT during flap suturing were calculated as absolute (mm) and relative values (%). Repeated‐measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results Wound closure induced a statistically significant change of HT 0 mm and of HT 1 mm in all the treatment groups ( P ≤ 0.05). The change in HT 0 mm measured −42.8 ± 17.9% ( SD ) for Granulate, −22.9 ± 21.2% ( SD ) for Granulate + Pins, and −20.2 ± 18.9% ( SD ) for Block. The reduction in HT 0 mm , HT 1 mm , HT 2 mm , and HT 3 mm for the G ranulate procedure was significantly higher as compared to the G ranulate + P ins and the B lock procedures ( P ≤ 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the change of HT between the G ranulate + P ins and the B lock procedures ( P > 0.05). Conclusion Wound closure induced displacement of the bone substitute resulting in a partial collapse of the collagen membrane in the coronal portion of the augmented site. The stability of the bone substitute and collagen membrane was enhanced by the application of fixation pins and by the use of block bone substitute instead of particulated bone substitute.