A new article published in Materials informed that several treatment modalities have been proposed to regenerate bone, including guided bone regeneration (GBR) where barrier membranes play an important role by isolating soft tissue and allowing bone to grow. The authors reported that all membranes do not behave in the same manner biologically, as they differ in their origin and structure—with respect to their mechanical properties and on their clinical performance. Collagen membranes have been widely used in medicine and dentistry, owing to their high biocompatibility and capability of promoting wound healing. This article stated that recently, collagen membranes have been applied in guided bone regeneration with comparable outcomes to non-resorbable membranes. It has been observed that collagen membranes demonstrate advantageous biological and clinical features compared to non-resorbable and other resorbable membranes, however, they are not free from complications. Detailed knowledge of the features of such biomaterials and surgical procedures may allow clinicians to perform the right choice, in order to maximize the success rate of such procedures.

Source: Materials. 2020 Feb 9;13(3). pii: E786. doi: 10.3390/ma13030786.