Evaluation of bone healing using rhBMP-2 soaked hydroxyapatite in ridge augmentation: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study is to evaluate complication and effectiveness of alveolar ridge augmentations using a hydroxyapatite-based alloplastic bony substitute with rhBMP-2. METHODS: A total of 10 patients (4 males, 6 females; 58.5 ± 8.6 years) participated in this clinical research. Alveolar ridge augmentations were performed in edentulous (4 maxillary posterior, 5 mandibular posterior, and 1 mandibular anterior) regions. Anorganic bovine bone (ABB; Bio-Oss®, Geistlich Pharma AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) was used as the bone graft material in the control group (n = 5)) while hydroxyapatite-based alloplastic bony substitute with rhBMP-2(HA+rhBMP-2; NOVOSIS®-Dent, CGBio Inc., Seongnam, Korea) was used in the experimental group (n = 5). In order to evaluate relative changes in bone volume and resorption rate of the bone graft material, CBCT radiographs were taken immediately and at 4 months after the bone graft in all subjects. Among the 10 patients, 8 received dental implants in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, while the others received in local clinics. Bone specimens for further histomorphometric examinations were gained from these 8 patients using trephine burs during the implant placements. Clinical, radiographic, and histomorphometric evaluations were focused because of the small sample size. RESULTS: When CBCT radiographs were compared between immediately and at 4.07 ± 0.13 months after the bone graft, both alveolar bone widths (ABB 2.52 ± 0.18 mm, HA+rhBMP-2 1.75 ± 0.85 mm) and heights (ABB 1.68 ± 0.17 mm, HA+rhBMP-2 1.57 ± 0.28 mm) increased in the two groups. Resorption rates of transplanted bone graft material in the alveolar bone widths and heights were (ABB 29.7 ± 8.8%, HA+rhBMP-2 31.5 ± 7.4%) and (ABB 39.2 ± 21.8%, HA+rhBMP-2 52.6 ± 6.5%), respectively. Histomorphometrically, ABB group showed bone formation via osteoconduction and HA+rhBMP-2 group via osteoinduction. HA+rhBMP-2 group showed more bone formation around the bone graft materials than the ABB group. Postoperative complications were not found in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our study had following conclusions: (1) Ridge augmentations using HA+rhBMP-2 could be clinically useful to supplement implant placements in edentulous regions. (2) Serious postoperative complications related to the graft material did not occur. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s40902-017-0138-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.