Use of 3D cartilage scaffolds for the stabilization of implants and bone regeneration with the fit-lock technique

The surgical procedures for implant applications on the lateral-upper areas depend on sinus pneumatization and availability of the residual bone. In these cases, autologous bone grafting remains the gold standard. Nevertheless, because of the morbidity associated to the donor site and the post-surgical complications, several alternative bone substitutes have been introduced, which, however, imply additional costs and show limited osteoinductive properties. Such limitations can be compensated with new regeneration strategies for biological and mechanical tissue restoration, a subject which has been addressed by tissue engineering in recent years. The authors present a new therapeutic option for implant application in the upper maxilla with bone availability less than 4 mm by using 3D scaffolds obtained from antigen-free porcine cartilage in the fit-lock technique. A longitudinal study on 18 consecutive cases was performed, with a 95.2% success rate one year after the implant. The advantages of this new technique are: 1) Functional and anatomical recovery of the maxillary antrum, 2) Immediate application of the implants; 3) Reduction of surgical times; 4) Absence of patient morbidity; 5) Local anesthesia; 6) Use of implants with a diameter > 4 mm.