Implantation of rhBMP-2 for alveolar augmentation and oral implants osseointegration: Experimental observations and clinical implications

Surgical placement of oral implants is governed by the prosthetic design and the morphology and quality of the alveolar bone. Regardless, oral implant placement often appears difficult, if at all possible, due to aberrations of the alveolar ridge. Hence, prosthetically guided implant positioning often entails augmentation of the alveolar ridge and adjoining structures. In this review we discuss recent observations of the biologic potential, clinical relevance and perspectives of application of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) technologies for alveolar bone augmentation and oral implant osseointegration. Using discriminating, critical-size, supraalveolar defects in dogs we show that rhBMP-2 has a substantial potential to augment alveolar bone and support functional loading of titanium oral implants. Our studies suggest that inclusion of rhBMP-2 for alveolar bone augmentation and oral implant fixation will not only enhance the predictability of existing clinical protocol but also allow new approaches to these procedures.