Early vascularisation

The use of a membrane to protect the more slowly growing bone from the faster proliferating soft tissue has been the basis of guided bone regeneration for more than 50 years. Today microvascularisation and the associated microcirculation are additionally considered to be crucial processes in successful bone regeneration. More recent findings demonstrate that fast and complete vascularisation using a GBR membrane supports bone formation in many respects: wound stabilisation, excellent tissue integration and uneventful wound healing go hand in hand with neo-vascularisation and thus contribute to optimum soft tissue healing and bone regeneration.

Collagen membranes

In GBR the revascularisation of the augmentation material depends on the membrane used. Only the formation of capillaries brings the osteoblasts to the place of action. Capillary formation precedes any bone formation. Immediately after the operation the augmentation material is supplied solely by diffusion. This changes as soon as angiogenesis starts. Then blood vessels assume this task. Accordingly, the early vascularisation of a membrane also facilitates healing and bone regeneration. Amongst all the materials used for GBR membranes native collagen is vascularised the best. To obtain a closer insight into these processes, different membranes were compared in several studies. In the course of this the native collagen membrane Geistlich Bio-Gide was ingrown the most quickly and uniformly by new blood vessels.