Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare Two Bone Substitutes in the Treatment of Bony Dehiscences

Aim: This in vivo split-mouth randomized controlled trial compared a synthetic bone substitute with a bovine bone mineral to cover bone dehiscences after implant insertion. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients received four to six implants to support an overdenture. Two comparable dehiscences within the same patient were first covered with a layer of autogenous bone, followed by a layer of either Bio-Oss (R) (group 1; Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) or Straumann BoneCeramic (R) (group 2; Institut Straumann AG, Basel, Switzerland) and sealed by a resorbable membrane. The change in vertical dimension of the defect was measured at implant placement and at abutment connection (6.5 months). Clinical and radiological parameters were evaluated up to 1 year of loading. Results: The vertical size of the defect at surgery was 6.4 +/- 1.6 mmfor group 1 and 6.4 +/- 2.2 mmfor group 2 sites, measured from the implant shoulder. After 6.5 months, the depth of the defect was reduced to 1.5 +/- 1.2 mm and 1.9 +/- 1.2 mm for group 1 and group 2 sites, respectively (p > 0.05). No implants failed during follow-up. Mean marginal bone loss over the SLActive surface was 0.94 mm(group 1), 0.81 mm(group 2), and 0.93 mm(group 3, no dehiscence) after 1 year of loading. Conclusion: Both bone substitutes behaved equally effectively.