A randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of the sandwich bone augmentation technique in increasing buccal bone thickness during implant placement surgery

Abstract

Objectives Sandwich bone augmentation ( SBA ) has been proposed to augment the width of edentulous ridges for implant placement. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a membrane on SBA for the regeneration of buccal implant dehiscence defects. Material and methods Twenty‐six healthy patients, each with a single defect, were randomly assigned into two groups. Both groups received an inner and outer layer of mineralized human cancellous and cortical particulate allograft. In the test group, a bovine pericardium membrane covered the bone grafts, while no membrane was placed in the control group. Cone beam computed tomography ( CBCT ) scans were taken before and immediately after implant placement and at 6 months post‐surgery. Results All implants placed were successfully osseointegrated at 6 months. Clinical re‐entry measurements showed significant buccal bone gain in the test group compared with the control group ( P < 0.05). The test group had 1.12, 2.21 and 2.44 mm more buccal bone thickness at 2, 4 and 6 mm below the bone crest. There were no significant differences in the mid‐buccal vertical bone height, defect height and width reductions and bone fill between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Cone beam computed tomography analysis demonstrated significant buccal bone gain of 1.22 mm in the test group. Radiographic vertical bone loss at 1‐year post‐surgery showed no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion Sandwich bone augmentation is a predictable technique for regenerating buccal bone on implant dehiscence defects. Addition of a barrier membrane prevented significant horizontal buccal bone resorption as space was maintained more effectively when compared with sites treated without a membrane.