This study is designed to determine the effect of collagen membrane (CM) soaked with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)
for the treatment of peri-implant dehiscence defects. Material and Methods.Three treatment groups were allocated at each defect
in 5 dogs: (i) collagenated synthetic bone (OC) and CM soaked with rhBMP-2 (BMP group), (ii) OC and CM soaked with saline
(nonBMP group), and (iii) no further treatment (control group). Titanium pins were used to stabilize the membranes in two dogs.
Radiographic and histomorphometric analyses were performed 4 weeks later. Results.The median augmented volumes were 4.27
mm3, 6.24 mm3, and 2.75mm3 in the BMP, nonBMP, and control groups, respectively; the corresponding median first bone-toimplant
contact (fBIC) distances were 3.25 mm, 3.08 mm, and 2.56 mm (𝑃 > 0.05). The placement of pins (with the BMP and
nonBMP groups pooled) significantly improved bone regeneration: the augmented volumes were 17.60 mm3 with pins and 3.68
mm3 without pins (𝑃 = 0.024), with corresponding fBIC distances of 2.25 mm and 3.31 mm, respectively (𝑃 < 0.001). Conclusions.
The addition of rhBMP-2 to CM failed to improve bone regeneration of peri-implant dehiscence defects compared to using an
unsoaked CM after 4 weeks. However, the stabilization of CMs using pins positively influenced the outcomes.