Guided Bone Regeneration Treats Implant Lesions

Guided Bone Regeneration Treats Implant Lesions

June 11 2014 – Oral implant surgery is complex and not without complications, one of which is an implant periapical lesion (IPL). If the lesion site becomes infected, it can lead to an abnormal growth, persistent inflammation and tenderness. However, a procedure that allows complete bone-regeneration at the implant related lesion site shows promise in treating the resulting bone defect and infection.

IPL develops rapidly after implant surgery and is treated with a second reparative surgery, in combination with antibiotic use. Surgeons have tried various treatments, such as using hand tools to enucleate the lesion, placement of bovine bone mineral to replace the diseased bone, and using an enamel mixture to help strengthen the surrounding tissues. Results from these treatments have been mixed. Some treatments have been successful, while others resulted in the lesion progressing, and in others the implant was lost.

In a Journal of Oral Implantology case study titled “Active implant periapical lesion: a case report treated via guided bone regeneration with a 5-year clinical and radiographic follow-up,” surgeons reported on using guided bone regeneration (GBR) principals to completely remove the lesion and any subsequent infections.

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