A Paradigm Shift in Bone Grafting

The Do's and Don’ts
of SteinerBio Bone Graft Products

SteinerBio bone grafts were developed to be different. The goal was to stimulate mineralization, not just allow it to happen. The unique qualities built into our grafts have given us a pathway to achieving significant clinical advancements, such as our early implant placement at one month and our 3D printed ridges for ridge augmentation and implant placement in the same visit. Therefore, it is important to understand the do’s and don’ts of our bone graft products in order to achieve successful bone regeneration. The purpose of this article is to guide our product users and boost implant success rates when the proper steps are followed.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR SOCKET GRAFTING

Bone graft materials used for extractions are:

Socket Graft: a packable putty, used when all walls remain after extraction (graft comes in a tray)
Socket Graft Injectable: a non-packable putty, used when all walls remain after extraction, inject and cover (graft comes in a syringe)
Socket Graft Plus: a packable putty, used for all socket grafting situations including missing walls and small ridge augmentations (graft comes in a tray)

These bone grafts are not intended to set up after placement and should be covered immediately with a d-PTFE membrane after the sockets have been filled.

After tooth extraction, do not manipulate the socket wall other than to remove granulation tissue. The less trauma, the quicker the healing process and the less pain your patient will experience. (see Atraumatic Extraction Method)

Most bone graft training is based on traditional materials that heal differently. Since this is a paradigm shift in dental bone grafting, let’s begin with what not to do when using SteinerBio bone graft products.

THE DON'TS

Our socket graft products work best when blood is not present. To avoid “graft washout” keep the socket as dry as possible. We are targeting the cells (osteoblasts) that produce bone and live in the bone. To help stop the blood flow, place a sterile 2×2 gauze in the socket and wait for the bleeding to subside.

If the socket is profusely bleeding, wet a sterile 2×2 gauze with 1:50 lido and pack it into the socket until the bleeding subsides. Repeat this step until the bleeding is under control. Quickly apply the graft material and cover with a d-PTFE membrane (remove the membrane after 1 month). Preparing the gingiva and membrane before placing the graft helps facilitate the process. If bleeding continues during packing of the graft material, apply a dry sterile 2×2 gauze on top of the graft material and pack the material using a bone packer. After packing, cover the socket with a d-PTFE membrane and remove the membrane in one month.

If using Socket Graft Injectable, follow the same steps as above, but since it is an injectable, it does not require packing. Simply fill the socket and cover with a d-PTFE and remove the membrane after 1 month. If extra graft material is available, overfill the socket and use the membrane to displace any extra graft material. This will fill any voids that may be present.

The inflammation caused by foreign proteins in these membranes and sutures will compromise SteinerBio bone graft products. (see Sutureless Membrane technique)

SteinerBio bone graft products have been formulated to an exact science that allows regenerative cells to thrive in the graft material.

Photobiomodulation has been around for 50 years and has been applied to every possible human malady. If it has any positive benefits for bone regeneration, it is still debatable. We earnestly request that it not be applied to sites grafted with our graft materials.

Chemicals compromise the cells living in the bone.

Our putty materials do not require hard packing like other bone graft products. Filling the socket somewhat firm and making sure all the voids are filled is most important when applying.

Due to the osteogenic properties in our bone grafts, bone regenerates more quickly than other bone grafts, giving the clinician the ability to place their implants 1 month after grafting or at membrane removal. However, if you are new to these products, we recommend waiting 3 months after grafting to place your implants. This will allow you to become familiar with the characteristics and handling of the material. (see 1-month Implant Placement)

Evaluating implant placement via torque is worthless with SteinerBio grafts. The reason SteinerBio bone graft products do not require torque when seating the implant is because during the process of osteogenesis, as the osteoblasts are secreting osteoid, the osteoid gets placed onto the implant surface creating bone to implant integration. During the process of torquing, the bone gets damaged and the bone that produces torque will be resorbed and replaced. SteinerBio graft materials produce integration when floating the implant in graft material with no bone contact. Superior integration comes from superior osteoblast vitality, not the hardness of the bone in contact with the implant during placement. (see Implant Floated in Graft)

THE DO'S

The less trauma caused to the socket during extraction, the quicker the healing process and the less pain and inflammation your patients will have afterwards. When you apply force to the tooth, that force is transmitted into the bone. The bone does not bend or flex when you force out a tooth- it is fracturing. Bone absorbs force via microfractures that you do not see but millions of these fractures is what allows the socket to expand and the tooth to be removed. Everyone of the microfractures creates an inflammatory response that results in resorption of the damaged bone and then repair of the microfracture. If the extraction is traumatic, the resorption of the microfractures can result in the loss of complete socket walls over the following weeks. When extracting a tooth, destroy the tooth but not the bone. (see Atraumatic Extraction Method)

Using animal or human products in combination with SteinerBio products will compromise the results. During the process of osteogenesis, millions of osteoblasts are proliferating and secreting osteoid throughout with an abundance of signaling and communication going on between the cells. When foreign proteins from animal or human-derived materials are used, regenerating cells come into contact with the foreign proteins. The cells will stop the bone regeneration process to attack the foreign proteins because they don’t belong to the host.

Any granulation tissue left in the site will compromise the graft.

Sterile saline significantly reduces the number of bacteria in the socket.

Systemic antibiotics are indicated.

Other Specifications by Product

Sinus Grafting Using Sinus Graft

Use a minimally invasive small osteotomy technique and lift the membrane hydraulically via injection of Sinus Graft. Minimally invasive surgery is always superior (if a large lateral window is required, use Ridge Graft Kit to regenerate the sub-antral maxilla). After the sinus membrane is lifted, place your implants at time of lift and load them 3 months later. All SteinerBio materials have been proven to produce implant integration to the grafted site of the implants making delayed implant placement unnecessary.
(see Steiner Sinus Lift)

If you perforate the sinus membrane, it is ok. The material will wash out the back of the patient’s throat and will not stay inside the sinus membrane due to its flowable viscosity. As long as the material remains underneath the perforated sinus membrane, you can still achieve the hydraulic lift. The sinus membrane will repair itself in a matter of days. If the membrane is destroyed, remove it from the floor of the sinus and fill with Sinus Graft and place implants. The sinus membrane over the graft is not needed. Simply use the flap created for the osteotomy and close it with sutures or Oral Bond (no sutures needed). Immediately after the lift, place your implants and load them in 3 months.

Note: Working time to place your implants after the hydraulic lift is about 30 minutes, the graft material will set inside the dry sinus. If the material sets, use your drill set to create the desired osteotomy for implant placement in order to avoid lifting the graft material off the floor of the sinus.

Immediate Implant Placement Using Immediate Graft and BioDensification

Create the osteotomy exactly at the angle you chose and fill the voids with graft material. When a large portion of the implant is not in bone, first fill the socket with BioDensification and then place your implant. Since Immediate Graft contains βTCP granules, it is not recommended to fill the apical portion of the osteotomy before placing the implant as the βTCP granules will interfere with the seating of the implant. Instead, Use BioDensification in the apical portion for filling all voids and then drive your implant into the filled osteotomy. Use Immediate Graft, which contains βTCP granules to fill the crestal portion of the voids and cover your implant with a d-PTFE or seal the gingiva with a healing abutment or temporary crown. If primary closure is possible, a membrane is not necessary. If the defects around an immediate implant are large, simply fill the socket with BioDensification and place the implant.

Follow the same principals as previously explained for grafting sockets.

BioDensification

Follow the same principals as previously explained for grafting sockets.

As with all of our bone graft products, BioDensification was also designed to cause integration to the implant surface. Therefore, when you remove your spinning implant, fill the osteotomy with BioDensification and replace your implant. The osteoblasts will migrate through the graft material and secrete osteoid onto the implant surface causing bone to implant integration saving your implant, having to regraft, sending your patient back home and waiting for the bone to regenerate the osteotomy site.

If the site has been previously grafted with a cadaver bone graft, the bone will never regain its vitality and you can expect poor results from any subsequent grafting procedure irrespective of the graft material used. If an implant was placed in a cadaver bone graft site and the implant is lost, all future implants will have a poor long-term prognosis. The only possible way to overcome this problem is to remove all of the sclerotic bone created by the cadaver bone graft. This requires aggressive bone removal.

Simple Ridge Augmentation Using Ridge Graft Kit

Saline water is ok to use, but chemicals compromise the cells living in the bone.

The foreign proteins in these membranes and sutures will compromise SteinerBio bone graft products. (see Sutureless Membrane technique)

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