Efficacy of Bioresorbable Mesh Sheets Made of 85:15 Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) in the Anterior Maxilla for Alveolar Bone Augmentation

This study evaluated the efficacy of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) mesh sheets for alveolar bone reconstruction in the anterior maxilla with significant bone defects. This prospective case series included 4 male patients (mean age, 34.5 years; range, 20-49 years) with anterior maxillary bone defects. Bone augmentation was performed using a staged guided bone regeneration technique with PLGA mesh sheets as barrier membranes and a 1:1 mixture of autogenous and xenogeneic bone as grafting material. The effectiveness of bone augmentation was evaluated using preoperative and postoperative computerized tomography data at 1 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included complications such as wound infection and dehiscence. The treatment of the 4 patients required 7 PLGA mesh sheets and particulate bone, followed by 9 implant placements. Wound healing was uneventful except for 1, wherein wound dehiscence and graft loss were observed. One patient had an exposed PLGA mesh sheet during healing, necessitating its removal. The mean vertical bone gain was 2.3 ± 0.5 mm, and the mean horizontal gain was 3.7 ± 1.3 mm at 1 month postoperatively. Sites without wound dehiscence exhibited a bone decrease rate of 6.5%-21.1%, whereas successful bone height and width increases were observed across treated sites. Bone augmentation using PLGA mesh sheets proved effective in reconstructing horizontal and vertical alveolar bone dimensions. This technique provides adequate support for implant placement, demonstrating its potential utility in cases of substantial alveolar bone deficiency.