HEALING OF A POST-EXTRACTIVE ALVEOLUS FOR SECOND INTENTION USING AN EQUINE PERICARDIUM MEMBRANE: A CASE STUDY

The maintenance of the alveolar crest in a 53-year-old patient with a compromised molar (3.6)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a pericardial membrane and preserved collagen-preserved cortico-cancellous bone granules, both of equine origin, in alveolar crest maintenance.  The choice of a suitable bone substitute is essential to ensure the proper maintenance of the alveolar process following the extraction of a tooth element. It is equally important to consider, when choosing the resorbable membrane, its protection time, i.e. the time for which the membrane remains intact after grafting. The combined use of equine pericardium membranes with bone granules containing collagen in native form has been successfully applied in oral surgery, but has never been documented in alveolar ridge maintenance. This study illustrates the case of a 53-year-old patient who presented to the surgeon with a compromised molar (3.6). Following extraction of the element, the site was grafted with equine bone granules. The graft was then covered with the pericardium membrane, positioned in two layers. The gingival margins were stabilized with a single point, leaving the membrane partially exposed. Healing by second intention was free of complications: neither infection nor inflammation of the soft tissue was detected. The use of a pericardium membrane and a preserved collagen bone graft can facilitate second intention healing of the soft tissue of a post-extraction site and allow effective maintenance of bone crest volumes over time.

PRODUCTS USED: Osteoxenon Granules Mix OSP-OX35, Heart Pericardium Membrane HRT-001