Long‐term follow‐up of simultaneous guided bone regeneration using native and cross‐linked collagen membranes over 6 years

Objectives To investigate the impact of a cross‐linked‐ ( VN ) collagen membrane on the long‐term stability of peri‐implant health over 6 years. Material and methods Vestibular dehiscence‐type defects at titanium implants (19 patients, 19 implants) were augmented using a natural bone mineral and randomly allocated to either VN or a native collagen membrane ( CM ) and left to heal in a submerged position for 4 months. Clinical parameters (i.e. Bleeding on Probing‐ BOP , probing pocket depth‐ PD , mucosal recession‐ MR ) were recorded at 4 and 6 years after prosthesis installation. Results At 4 and 6 years, both VN and CM revealed comparable mean BOP , PD and MR values at both vestibular and oral aspects. Changes in these parameters from 4 to 6 years were minimal (vestibular aspect‐ VN : −3.3 ± 48.2%, −0.1 ± 0.5 mm, −0.1 ± 0.3 mm; CM : −1.8 ± 33.7%, 0.0 ± 0.4 mm, −0.1 ± 0.7 mm) and not significantly different between groups. At 6 years, the incidence of mucositis and peri‐implantitis was comparable in both groups ( VN : 60.0% and 20.0%; CM : 33.3% and 33.3%). Conclusion In conclusion, the present follow‐up observation failed to identify any beneficial impact of VN over CM on peri‐implant health at 4 and 6 years.