Introduction: Guided bone augmentation often requires extensive releasing of the mucoperiosteal flap to achieve primary wound closure, an invasive procedure that can compromise the keratinized tissue volume and increase patient morbidity. Amnion-chorion membranes have been used to actively promote healing in chronic open-wound situations in the medical field, suggesting that they could be used in a similar manner in the oral cavity.The ability to use open-wound healing techniques for guided bone regeneration would allow clinicians to avoid invasive procedures that cause additional tissue trauma at the surgical site.
Case series: Amnion-chorion membranes were applied over the bone grafting material augmenting localized horizontal ridge defects, and a gap between the flaps was left intentionally during healing. Minor flap releasing procedures were performed in these cases, which demonstrated uneventful soft tissue healing, good volume of bone regeneration and preserved keratinized tissue.
Conclusions: Preliminary clinical outcomes suggested contained minor horizontal ridge defects may be treated satisfactorily in a controlled, open-wound healing manner that reduces surgical trauma, chair time, and patient morbidity.
Keywords: Alveolar ridge augmentation; amnion; chorion; dental implants; microsurgery; surgical flaps; wound healing.
© 2020 American Academy of Periodontology.