Background: guided bone regeneration (GBR) is considered a predictable method when used to treat 3D alveolar defects prior to implant placement. The aim of this study was to compare the histomorphometric outcomes following GBR of 3D bone defects in the maxilla using a 3D patient specific milled titanium mesh vs. a 3D patient specific, milled PEEK meshes.
Material and methods: split mouth study was conducted on 8 patients (16 alveolar ridge) suffering from 3D maxillary alveolar defects. GBR was performed using an equal mixture of autogenous and xenogenic bone grafts loaded on either patient specific milled Titanium mesh (control group) or patient specific milled PEEK mesh (test group). Implant placement and core biopsied was carried out 6 months following alveolar ridge augmentation.
Results: Wound healing was uneventful for all cases except one patient in each group were the meshes were exposed. There was a statistically significant difference between both groups (P value = 0.000).
Conclusion: These results showed that patient specific milled Titanium meshes provide a superior osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties compared to milled PEEK meshes. yet further studies using larger sample size is needed.