When a tooth is lost or extracted, the jawbone that once supported it begins to resorb, or shrink, over time. This process can be significant enough to prevent the successful placement of a dental implant, which requires a sufficient volume of healthy bone for stability. Bone grafting is the procedure used to regenerate this missing structure, and it often involves placing a scaffold material into the defect. OSSIX Bone is an advanced, proprietary material that dental professionals use to facilitate this regeneration process, providing a predictable foundation for future prosthetic treatment.
What is OSSIX Bone and How is it Made
OSSIX Bone is classified as an ossifying collagen sponge, a block-form material designed to act as a scaffold for new bone growth. Its composition is approximately 80% crystalline hydroxyapatite and 20% porcine-derived collagen. This ratio and structure ensure the material is biocompatible and offers the necessary mechanical support for the healing site.
The material is manufactured using GLYMATRIX® technology. This process uses naturally occurring sugars to cross-link the collagen molecules within the matrix. This cross-linking stabilizes the collagen, making the structure more resilient to the body’s natural degradation enzymes. The resulting porous sponge maintains its architecture longer than non-cross-linked materials.
Why Dental Professionals Use This Material
Dental professionals rely on OSSIX Bone for a variety of procedures where bone density is compromised or insufficient to support a dental restoration. A common application is socket preservation, where the material is placed directly into an extraction site immediately after a tooth is removed to prevent the inevitable collapse of the alveolar ridge. It is also frequently used in ridge augmentation procedures, which aim to increase the width or height of the jawbone in preparation for implant placement.
The material’s design offers advantages over traditional particulate bone grafts. Because it is a block sponge, it eliminates the risk of graft particle migration, ensuring it remains securely in the defect. This cohesiveness also contributes to the material’s ease of handling, allowing it to be trimmed precisely to fit the defect size. In certain cases, such as socket preservation or closed sinus elevation, the material’s stability is sufficient to be used without a separate barrier membrane.
The Biological Mechanism of Bone Regeneration
OSSIX Bone operates on the principle of Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR), a technique that isolates a bony defect to promote the growth of bone-forming cells. The material acts as a physical, stable scaffold that prevents surrounding gum tissue and soft cells from growing into the defect space. This exclusion reserves the space for bone-forming cells, or osteoblasts, to migrate and populate the area.
The porous structure of the sponge provides an optimal environment for the ingrowth of blood vessels and the proliferation of osteoprogenitor cells. The GLYMATRIX cross-linking technology ensures a slow, predictable resorption profile. This means the material stays intact long enough to maintain the necessary space for bone formation. As the body’s own bone matures, the OSSIX Bone scaffold is gradually replaced by newly formed bone tissue, a process known as ossification. This slow integration and replacement results in a high percentage of functional bone.
The Surgical Process and Recovery
The surgical placement of OSSIX Bone is typically performed under local anesthesia, ensuring the patient remains comfortable throughout the procedure. After the dental professional accesses the bony defect, the site is prepared, which includes ensuring the underlying bone is well-vascularized, often by making small perforations in the cortical bone layer. The OSSIX Bone is then trimmed to the exact size and shape of the defect using sterile instruments.
The material must be hydrated with the patient’s own blood from the surgical site until it changes color, indicating it is fully saturated and ready for placement. It is then gently pressed into the defect to ensure intimate contact with the surrounding bone. Following placement, the surgical site is carefully sutured closed to achieve primary closure, which protects the graft from the oral environment.
Initial recovery involves managing expected symptoms like swelling and mild discomfort for the first few days, usually controlled with medication. Patients are instructed to avoid disturbing the surgical site and may be asked to rinse with a prescription mouthwash like chlorhexidine. The body needs time to fully integrate and replace the scaffold with mature bone. For small defects, the site may be ready for implant placement within 15 to 19 weeks. Larger defects or complex augmentations may require a healing period of at least 22 weeks before the new bone can withstand mechanical loading.