Clinical and histological results in alveolar ridge enlargement using coralline calcium carbonate.

A very important parameter during the insertion of dental implants is the amount of bone present in a site. A regenerative procedure to increase the width and the height of bone is proposed with the use of occlusive barrier membranes and biomaterials. The authors used, in six patients with deficient alveolar ridges, prior to implant insertion, Biocoral gel particles in connection with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes. After 6 months it was observed that a tissue similar to mature bone had regenerated under the membrane and microscopically it was observed that the Biocoral particles were still present and almost all were completely surrounded by mature bone.