Treatment of an early failing implant by guided bone regeneration using resorbable collagen membrane and bioactive glass

Implant failure can be divided into early (prior to prosthetic treatment) or late (after prosthetic rehabilitation). Early failure is generally due to interference in the healing process after implant placement. Implants undergoing early failure will show progressive bone loss on radiographs during the healing period (4 to 6 weeks). In the present case report, early progressive bone loss was seen at 6 weeks, after placement of a non-submerged single piece mini implant. Clinical examination revealed peri-implant bleeding on probing and pocket and grade-1 mobility. Treatment protocol included mechanical debridement (plastic curettes), chemical detoxification with supersaturated solution of citric acid, antibiotics and guided bone regeneration therapy using the collagen membrane as guided bone regeneration barrier in combination with bioactive glass as bone grafting material. The 6 month postoperative examination showed complete resolution of the osseous defect, thus suggesting that this technique may hold promise in the treatment of implants undergoing early failure.