Dental membranes are known to improve the prognosis in procedures involving periodontal tissue regeneration and bone augmentation.[1] However, their use in bone regeneration is surprisingly low, featuring in only 25-30% of bone grafting procedures performed today. Here, we make the case for using a dental membrane in your bone grafting procedures.
Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a surgical technique used to increase alveolar bone volume. It is most commonly used to preserve the socket after an extraction to support the future placement of dental implants. It may also be used around an existing dental implant to repair small bony defects or promote bone growth.
The term “guided” refers to the use of a barrier membrane in addition to a bone graft. In the context of socket preservation, GBR involves filling the socket with a bone substitute and covering the material with a membrane, which protects the graft site and guides the creation of new bone tissue.
GBR is also referred to as guided tissue regeneration, or GTR. However, it is important to note that GTR may refer to the regeneration of both the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, while GBR refers specifically to the bony tissue.
