Alveolar bone augmentation with a newly designed microperforated pure titanium membrane: A clinical case series

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a novel titanium membrane (Ti honeycomb membrane), which has ultrafine structures with dense microperforations, for the alveolar bone augmentation including guided bone regeneration (GBR). Patients and methods: Fifteen patients with 17 bone defects underwent alveolar bone augmentation surgery using the membranes with autologous bone grafting plus beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) (n = 9) or with β-TCP alone (n = 8). The membranes were removed at 6–8 months postoperatively, and the regenerated bone was evaluated clinically. In addition, the prognosis of the implants placed in the augmented bones was assessed. Results: Postoperative courses were uneventful in 14 sites without membrane exposures, in which CT analysis showed the bone volume required to place the implants and significantly higher bone density in the sites with autologous bone grafting plus β-TCP than in the sites with β-TCP alone (p = 0.019). In contrast, membrane exposures were found in three sites (17.6%) at< 4 weeks postoperatively (early membrane exposure) and the bone augmentations resulted in failure; however, implants could be placed in two of the three sites. Finally, the overall success rate of bone augmentation and implants placed in the augmented bone were 82.4% and 93.3%, respectively. Conclusions: This membrane was proved to be useful for alveolar bone augmentation, especially when using autologous bone grafting plus β-TCP; however, more efficient operative techniques are required to prevent early membrane exposure.