The Use of e-PTFE Barrier Membranes for Bone Promotion Around Titanium Implants Placed Into Extraction Sockets: A Prospective Multicenter Study

This multicenter study was conducted to determine the predictability for implants placed into immediate extraction sockets and augmented with e-PTFE barrier membranes. Forty-nine implants were placed in immediate extraction sockets. Initial and final defect measurements and the number of threads exposed were compared. Patients were followed up to 1 year after implant loading. Three implants were lost at the abutment connection surgery. The 1-year survival rate was 93.9%. Twenty barrier membranes became exposed and were removed prior to stage 2 surgery, while the remaining barriers were removed at abutment connection. The average defect bone formation for membrane-retained sites was 4.8 mm, while the average bone formation for sites in which the membranes were prematurely removed was 4.0 mm (P .0001). At stage 2 surgery there was an average of 0.6 threads exposed (P .001) for the membrane-retained sites and 2.6 threads for the early removal sites (NS). Forty-five pairs of nonstandardized radiographs were evaluated for bone loss after implant loading (average 7.5 months). The mesiodistal bone loss averaged 0.72 mm. Within the limits of this study, e-PTFE membranes will promote clinically and statistically significant amounts of bone around immediately placed implants. Retention of e-PTFE barriers until stage 2 surgery improves the amount of bone promoted around the implants. Keywords: bone promotion, e-PTFE barrier membranes, immediate implants