Browsing by Author "Zafiropoulos, Gregory-George"

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Lateral Wall Regeneration and Membrane Repair After Attempted Sinus Augmentation Using a Non-Resorbable Membrane
(2017) Zafiropoulos, Gregory-George
Abstract: Insufficient bone height for dental implant placement is often encountered in the posterior maxilla. Its main causes are postextraction alveolar ridge resorption and increased maxillary sinus size due to the prolonged absence of teeth. Different procedures to increase the bone volume available for implant placement have been described. Among them, sinus elevation using a lateral window is well documented and predictable.3–5 Despite the procedure’s generally high success rate, intraoperative complications may occur. A frequently encountered problem is tearing of the Schneiderian membrane, which can often be resolved, enabling successful treatment completion, with the placement of an internal resorbable membrane.6–9 When this is not possible, surgical closure and later re-attempting of the procedure may be advisable. Surgical flap closure without a membrane may result in insufficient bony repair of the lateral wall. The use of barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration may achieve bony repair of the defect.10 This report describes a case in which d-polytetrafluoroethylene (dPTFE) membrane use resulted in complete repair of the buccal wall and Schneiderian membrane.
Use of Collagen Matrix for Augmentation of the Peri-implant Soft Tissue at the Time of Immediate Implant Placement
(2017-05) Zafiropoulos, Gregory-George
Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the treatment outcome of the use of a porcine monolayer collagen matrix (mCM) to augment peri-implant soft tissue in conjunction with immediate implant placement as an alternative to patient’s own connective tissue. Materials and methods: A total of 27 implants were placed immediately in 27 patients (14 males and 13 females, with a mean age of 52.2 years) with simultaneous augmentation of the soft tissue by the use of a mCM. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group I: An envelope flap was created and mCM was left coronally uncovered, and group II: A coronally repositioned flap was created and the mCM was covered by the mucosa. Soft-tissue thickness (STTh) was measured at the time of surgery (T0) and 6 months postoperatively (T1) using a customized stent. Cone beam computed tomographies (CBCTs) were taken from 12 representative cases at T1. A stringent plaque control regimen was enforced in all the patients during the 6-month observation period. Results: Mean STTh change was similar in both groups (0.7 ± 0.2 and 0.7 ± 0.1 mm in groups I and II respectively). The comparison of STTh between T0 and T1 showed a statistically significant increase of soft tissue in both groups I and II as well as in the total examined population (p<0.001). The STTh change as well as matrix thickness loss were comparable in both groups (p>0.05). The evaluation of the CBCTs did not show any signs of resorption of the buccal bone plate. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it could be concluded that the collagen matrix used in conjunction with immediate implant placement leads to an increased thickness of peri-implant soft tissue independent of the flap creation technique and could be an alternative to connective tissue graft.