Primary bone augmentation leads to equally stable marginal tissue conditions comparing the use of xenograft blocks infused with BMP-2 and autogenous bone blocks: A 3D analysis after 3 years

Objectives To test whether or not primary bone augmentation using xenograft blocks infused with BMP-2 or autogenous bone blocks lead to similar results regarding the implant survival and 3D marginal soft tissue contours. Methods Twenty-four patients with an insufficient ridge width for implant placement in need of primary augmentation were randomly assigned to either a block of deproteinized bovine bone mineral infused with rhBMP-2 (BMP) or an intraorally harvested block of autogenous bone (ABB). At 4 months, 1-4 dental implants were placed in the regenerated area. After crown insertion and at 3 years, peri-implant tissue parameters, two- and three-dimensional radiographic parameters, and soft tissue contour changes were evaluated. Explorative mixed model analyses were performed. The level of significance was set at 5%. Results At the 3-year follow-up, 23 patients with 40 implants were evaluated. The implant survival rate was 100% in both groups. At baseline, the marginal hard tissue levels amounted to -0.4 +/- 0.8 mm (mean +/- standard deviation) in the BMP group and -0.7 +/- 1.0 mm in the ABB group. At 3 years, these values were -0.2 +/- 0.4 mm (BMP) and -0.6 +/- 1.0 mm (ABB). At baseline, the thickness of the buccal hard tissue at the level of the implant shoulder measured 1.1 +/- 1.1 mm (BMP) and 1.4 +/- 1.0 mm (ABB). At 3 years, it measured 0.9 +/- 0.9 mm (BMP) and 0.7 +/- 0.6 mm (ABB). Conclusions The present study demonstrated excellent implant survival rates and stable marginal hard tissue levels in both augmentation groups, 3 years after crown insertion. In addition, the clinical stability of soft and hard tissues was demonstrated in both groups.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that primary bone augmentation using xenograft blocks infused with BMP-2 or autogenous bone blocks led to similar results regarding implant survival and 3D marginal soft tissue contours. Both groups showed excellent implant survival rates and stable marginal hard tissue levels at 3 years. The clinical stability of both soft and hard tissues was also observed in both groups.