Guided Tissue Regeneration & the Impact of Device in Oral Surgery

Reconstructive dental surgery has become increasingly more common in recent years. In many cases, restorative dental procedures improve not only the cosmetic appearance, but also improve oral function. If you are considering reconstructive dental surgery, it is important to understand not only the immediate health benefits, but also the risks.

With reconstructive dental surgery, you may be surprised to learn that your dental surgery does not result in immediately full restoration of your dental health. Contrary to popular belief, it will take many months or even years for your full benefit to be realized. With the healing process, the reconstructive dental surgery will improve your function and, eventually, you should realize a benefit in the periodontal ligament function and an improvement in the alveolar bone. This improvement, however, will depend upon your wound healing process and the stability of the surgical outcome.

Plaque management and control will be a vital part of your post-surgery care as will the maintenance of sutures and general oral hygiene. When wound closure is not adequate, or sutures lines are not correctly developed, bacteria can easily develop. In an effort to offset the risks of abnormal wound healing, your surgeon may wish to implant a device or consider the use of guided tissue regeneration, GTR. With GTR procedures, the device used often is bioresorbable meaning it can be used in bone grafting procedures rather easily.

If your oral surgery requires the use of bone grafting, there is much debate over the use of bioresorbable devices. In fact, if your complication involves surgery to repair intra-bony periodontal complications, there may be no benefit to the use of the bioresorbable device when considering guided tissue regeneration as part of your reconstructive surgery. When your oral surgeon strongly suggests the use of the bioresorbable device, be certain to ask about the oral health risks involved with possible exposure of the bioresorbable device even as late as three weeks post-operatively.