Guided Bone Regeneration: Novel Use of Fixation Screws as an Alternative to Using the Buccoapical Periosteum for Membrane Stabilization With Sutures-Two Case Reports.

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) requires a stable graft-membrane complex. This article presents a novel technique that uses membrane fixation screws to serve as anchors for membrane stabilization sutures without the need for periosteal dissection and biting of the buccoapical periosteum. This technique may be a viable alternative when there is a preference to avoid the complexities of periosteal suturing and direct membrane fixation using tacks or screws. The technique, which utilizes anchoring screws as mooring lines, can be used at the time of tooth extraction as well as for ridge augmentation of an edentulous site in preparation for future dental implant placement. Two case reports are presented that illustrate the feasibility of the technique, in which the integrity and stability of a resorbable membrane is preserved prior to final closure, suggesting that screws used as anchors for stabilization sutures might be a predictable option when addressing challenging horizontal defects requiring GBR.