Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a reconstructive procedure of alveolar ridge using membranes with or without particulate bone grafts or/and bone substitutes. This procedure is indicated when insufficient bone for implantation is there, or in case of optimal implant placement for esthetic or functional needs. GBR can be performed before placement of implant, when there is insufficient bone for initial stability of implants and less predictable outcomes (staged approach), or performed simultaneously with implantation (combined approach). Vertical and horizontal ridge augmentations can be done...

Osseointegration represents a direct connection between bone and implant without interposed soft tissue layers. However, 100% bone connection to the implant does not occur. Problems in identifying the exact degree of bone attachment for the implant to be termed osseointegrated has led to a definition of osseointegration based on stability instead of on histologic criteria: " A process whereby clinically asymptomatic rigid fixation of alloplastic materials is achieved, and maintained, in bone during functional loading". The clinical procedure of osseointegration has an ultimate aim to provide...