The use of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 = rhBMP-2) as a bone induction technique (to gain new bone) has been an accepted and effective technique for many years. (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 74:928-939, 2016). The main limiting factor over the years has been the cost of the materials which is quite high. Because of what seemed to me to be a prohibitive expense, I have used other techniques which evolved over time. Over the past number of years we have been using a combination of human bone allograft and PRGF (platelets rich in growth factors). The bone-PRGF technique has been so successful for me, and is relatively inexpensive, that at this time it is my work-horse procedure to add bone in areas of deficit. This has been especially useful to build up the bone in areas where we want to place dental implants such as with the sinus lift procedure.
One of the biggest problems we have seen over time with the rhBMP-2 is that it causes a significant tissue reaction with a significant amount of swelling after the procedure which ultimately makes the patient more uncomfortable. The bone-PRGF technique is a passive procedure with little discomfort and an excellent tissue response often with little or no swelling.
Where the rhBMP-2 procedure does not require a blood draw or the use of a human bone product, it does not result in as excellent a result as it relates to the ultimate gain in bone height. The bone-PRGF technique gives us great results, more bone volume, is quite a bit less expensive, and gives a stable bone site for subsequent dental implant care.
If you have questions, call Wagner Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Specialists at (262) 634-4646 to learn more.
