Implants placed simultaneously with particulated bone graft in patients diagnosed with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

PURPOSE: To describe the rehabilitation with implants placed simultaneously with particulated bone graft in 4 patients diagnosed with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 4 patients diagnosed with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and treated with dental implants and simultaneous particulate bone graft from January 2005 to December 2009. All patients had marked oral involvement, with devastating alterations in the soft and hard tissues and were rehabilitated with a fixed prosthesis.

RESULTS: Eighteen implants showed dehiscence or fenestration and were placed simultaneously with particulated bone grafts to cover exposed threads: 14 received autologous bone and 4 tricalcium betaphosphate. In 16, the bone graft was covered with resorbable collagen membranes and in 2 with a nonresorbable titanium-reinforced membrane. Of the 18 implants, 8 were placed in the maxilla combining drills and osteotomes and 10 in the mandible with the conventional drilling procedure. All implants survived after a minimum follow-up of 12 months (range 12 to 48).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this small-sample clinical study suggest that endosseous implants can be placed simultaneously with particulated bone graft, providing support for a fixed prosthesis in patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and considerably improving these patients' quality of life.