Bone regeneration and tissue acceptance of human fascia lata grafts adjacent to dental implants: a preliminary case report.

The biologic principle of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has been studied extensively in hopes of regenerating alveolar bone. Various materials have been utilized as regenerative membranes; however, all materials have disadvantages, and the ideal membrane material is yet to be identified. In this case report, human freeze-dried fascia lata strips were used as a regenerative barrier membrane in conjunction with the placement of endosseous root implants and demineralized, freeze-dried bone allograft. The major advantage in the use of human fascia lata for guided tissue regeneration is that a second procedure to remove the material is not necessary, and the fascia is accepted by the surrounding tissues without complication. There is acceptance of four endosseous root-form dental implants that were immediately placed into fresh extraction sockets and covered with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA), with human freeze-dried fascia lata used to serve as a biocompatible, collagenous, regenerative augmentation membrane over the dental implants. The biologic concept of GTR is clinically applied to increase the dimensions of the edentulous, maxillary alveolar ridge with use of human freeze-dried fascia lata barrier membranes.