ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adjunctive combined effect of demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft(DFDB) in guided bone regeneration on supra-alveolar peri-implant defect. Supra-alveolar perio-implant defects, 3mm in height, each including 4 IMZ titanium plasma-sprayed implants were surgically created in two mongrel dogs. Subsequently, the defects were treated with 1 of the following 3 modalities: Control) no membrane or graft application, Group1) DFDB application, Group2) guided bone regeneration using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, Group3) guided bone regeneration using membrane and DFDB. After a healing period of 12-week, the animals were sacrificed, tissue blocks were harvested and prepared for histological analysis. Histologic examination were as follows; 1. New bone formation was minimal in Control and Group 1, but considerable new bone formation was observed in Group 2 and Group 3. 2. There was no osteointegration at the implant-bone interface in the high-polished area of Group2 and Group 3. 3. In fluorescent microscopic examination, remodeling of new bone was most active during week 4 and week 8. There was no significant difference in remodeling rate between group 2 and group 3. 4. DFDB particles were observed, invested in a connective tissue matrix. Osteoblast activity in the area was minimal. The results suggest that guided bone regeneration shows promising results in supra-alveolar peri-implant defects during the 12 week healing period although it has a limited potential in promoting alveolar bone regeneration in the high-polished area. There seems to be no significant adjunctive effect when DFDB is combined with GBR.