The constant search for minimally invasive techniques continues! Some technical situations prevent implant placement due to a lack of available bone. This situation requires bone grafts, harvested from areas inside or outside the mouth. These harvests are quite invasive, and the post-surgical phase is sometimes characterized by swelling and pain.

Today, grafts derived from bank bone (human) are available which are remarkably effective and make the bone augmentation technique decidedly less invasive.

Another technique, which enhances the first and makes it safer, involves blood sampling (a few cc) and centrifugation.
This produces a fibrin membrane that, once applied to the bone graft, improves healing.

The two combined techniques make the grafts more acceptable to the patient, reducing pain and swelling. Once the graft is complete, computer-assisted implantology will allow for minimally invasive implant placement using the flapless, scalpel-free, and suture-free techniques.