Equivalent Outcomes Following Submerged or Transmucosal Guided Bone Regeneration Procedures Using a Bioactive Collagen Membrane: A Prospective Case Series.

Purpose: To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients receiving two different healing strategies for their guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures using a novel collagen membrane to support the implant placement.

Materials and methods: A total of 20 patients (27 implants) were included. They received either transmucosal (10 patients, 11 teeth) or submerged (10 patients, 16 teeth) GBR procedures. A standardized CBCT scan protocol was performed immediately posttreatment and in a follow-up visit at 4 to 6 months posttreatment. The distance from the implant shoulder to the first bone-to-implant contact on the sides of the implant (distance from implant to bone [DIB]), the horizontal dimension of the buccal alveolar crests, the quality of newly formed bone in the submerged group, the complication rate, and the pain score were reported.

Results: Healing at all implant sites was uneventful, with mild swelling and inflammation within normal postoperative limits. The between-group quantitative analysis of CBCT images obtained immediately postoperatively (CBCT1) and 4 to 6 months postoperatively (CBCT2) showed no statistical difference in any parameter. Facial bone wall thickness at 1, 3, and 5 mm below the implant shoulder significantly decreased in both submerged and transmucosal procedure participants in CBCT2 compared to CBCT1.

Conclusions: Outcomes of GBR treatment were consistent with established clinical and preclinical evidence for the safety and performance of collagen barrier membranes in either submerged or transmucosal GBR procedures. In addition, these two different healing strategies exhibited similar clinical and radiographic outcomes.