Assessing Graft Site for Possible Infection?

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Dr. D. asks:

I have a patient in which I did an extraction of a maxillary first premolar. I inserted Bio-Oss and covered it with a resorbable membrane and a palatal soft tissue graft. In the first weeks the healing was within normal limits, but afterwards he developed an endodontic problem in the adjacent canine because of leakage under an old restoration.

The second premolar has a crown and on the x-ray it looks like good and the tooth is not mobile but testing with cold isn’t possible. I have now been waiting 8 months and the tissue over the extraction site is nice and firm without signs of inflammation or pockets next to the adjacent teeth. Recently he developed an infection in the first molar according to a dentist abroad and this was treated there. After taking care of this problem the first molar looks like normal again.

Is there any possibility that he has developed a chronic inflammation or infection of the graft site? How do I handle this in a proper way? How do I know if the grafted material has osseointegrated and healed well enough for me to place an implant? Subsequent to these events, he has been diagnosed with mild Type 2 Diabetes and mild COPD. How do I proceed?








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2 Responses to “ Assessing Graft Site for Possible Infection? ”

  • Larry Duffy January 16th, 2008

    In my opinion the only way to tell is to perform the osteotomy…if the graft feels (mushy)…softer than d2 or d3 bone then it is not integrated and you should remove the graft and debride..and immediatley re-graft with autogenous bone rather than bio-oss… unless there is enough good natural bone to place the implant….this is just a judgement call at the time of surgery. If you place the implant, with his med. condition..let heim heal 6-8 months before restoration and cover with antibiotics for ten days…if you have to regraft i would wait at least again 8 months before placing implant and cover with antibiotics for ten days… Use silk or some type of non-resorbable sutures…chromis seem to dissolve to quick in diabetic patients…also call his MD and see if he is a controlled diabetic…if not…wait until he is.

  • Dr. D January 19th, 2008

    Thank you for your help!

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