Bone-creating protein may improve dental implant success, say scientists
March 5th, 2011 - 2:31 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Mar 5 (ANI): Georgia Health Sciences University researchers suggest that using a bone-creating protein to augment the maxillary sinus could improve dental implant success.
Dental implants, screws that anchor permanent prosthetic teeth, won’t work if the bone in which they are anchored is too thin. Bone-thinning is a common cause and consequence following tooth loss.
The current favored solution is to supplement the area with bone grafts to stabilize the implant base. But that technique is problematic “primarily because it involves additional surgeries to harvest the bone,” said Dr. Ulf M.E. Wikesjo, Interim Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise in the GHSU College of Dental Medicine.
In animal studies, he and his team at the GHSU Laboratory for Applied Periodontal and Craniofacial Regeneration found that implanting bone morphogenetic protein in the sinus more new bone will form within four weeks than using conventional bone grafting at the same site.
“We found that BMP induced superior bone quality over that following bone grafts, which improves the chances for successful implants,” Wikesjo said.
“BMP is phenomenal, because it’s a true, off-the-shelf product with ease of use that can produce real results, and it could be the new gold standard for this procedure.”
Implants provide patients with numerous benefits, including improved oral health, appearance, speech, convenience, durability and ability to eat. (ANI)
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Tags: animal studies, bone grafting, bone grafts, bone morphogenetic protein, bone quality, cause and consequence, dental implant, dental implants, dental medicine, georgia health, gold standard, health sciences university, interim associate dean, maxillary sinus, oral health, prosthetic teeth, shelf product, thin bone, tooth loss, university researchers