Ferdinando D'Avenia and Richard Miron
Immediate implant dentistry has become an effective treatment modality for many clinicians to shorten treatment times. Naturally, while these implants are placed more lingually/palatally and a gap is created between the buccal bone and implant surface, an oftenoverlooked parameter has been the choice of biomaterial/bone graft utilized to fill this void. In the present case study, the introduction of an atelo-collagen based bone grafting material is presented with superior biocompatibility owing to the reduction in immunogenic properties of animal-based collagen. Since xenograft bone biomaterials are commonly devoid of all collagen and growth factor content (reducing their potential for causing an immune response), the recent development of a natural bovine bone mineral containing atelo-collagen type I has favoured atelo-collagen-incorporation within the bone matrix of xenografts. In the present case report, a vertical root fracture on a previously endodonticallytreated right upper first premolar was extracted and an implant was immediately placed. The gap was then packed with an atelo-collagenized xenograft bone graft. A 20-month healing period is provided. This article aims to provide the clinician with a better understanding of the processing steps required to turn collagen into atelocollagen via atelopeptidation and lyophilization technologies and results in a modification to the immunecollagen component of collagen to non-immunogenic atelo-collagen.
