Use of solubilized bovine-derived collagen as a xenogeneic grafting material

Versitality of the Use of Collagen Membrane in Oral Cavity

INTRODUCTION

Bovine derived collagen membrane is usually and regularly used as a temporary cover or dressing for the extra oral wounds and for the burns on the body. It has wide applications because of its usefulness and biocompatibility. This has provoked us to do a study with the use of collagen membrane even for the intraoral minor surgical defects.

AIM

The study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of collagen membrane as a biological dressing material for intraoral wounds, to check for haemostasis, pain control, granulation tissue formation, rapid re-epithelialization and minimal contracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 30 patients 19 male, 11 female were taken for excision of various intraoral lesions like leukoplakia patches, mucocele, epulis growths, irritational fibroma, frenectomy and the surgical defects were closed with collagen membrane. Postoperatively healing was assessed by taking five clinical parameters of Haemostasis, Pain, Granulation tissue, Epithelialization, Contracture.

RESULTS

Among 30 patients, haemostasis score was found to be good in 28 cases, fair in two cases. Pain relief score was good in seven cases, fair in 19 cases, poor in four cases. Granulation tissue formation score was good in eight cases, fair in 13 cases, poor in nine cases. Epithelialization score was good in 19 cases, fair in seven cases, poor in four cases. Contracture score was good in six cases, fair in 16 cases, poor in eight cases. Total score of all the five parameters, which was rated as effectiveness score, was calculated by using a standard scale. Final scoring was very effective in six cases, effective in 20 cases, ineffective in four cases.

CONCLUSION

Reconstituted bovine derived collagen membrane used in our study was found to be an effective intraoral wound dressing material for faster uneventful healing of intraorally also.

Report of Committee on Scientific Investigation of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry

A few personal points seem appropriate in summary. It is axiomatic that while research solves problems, it also creates them. As an example, it is an accepted fact that dentistry more than any other profession has made serious inroads into putting itself out of business through research. Each year this report takes note of the reduction in dental caries in children, which has thus triggered a change in the nature of general practice. Be this as it may, it is well to acknowledge that major dental diseases are not disappearing, but their patterns in the population are changing, accompanied by an expansion of other services. Despite the optimistic picture painted earlier in this report, it is grossly premature to acclaim the elimination of caries, and thereby a significant segment of restorative dentistry. Of course the younger age groups have been the major beneficiaries of caries reduction. As the child ages from 9 to 16 years, the percentage of mouths free of caries drops by one half. In addition, the disease pattern in the adult population is being altered because of a longer life span and loss of fewer teeth. Unquestionably what we will, and are already seeing, is not an elimination of restorative dentistry but a different target and changes in procedures because of new materials, therapy, and expanded scope of services. There is yet another subtle change in the trend of dental research and it deals with the reduction in the number of dental schools worldwide and smaller class sizes in those schools. Dental research thereby suffers because of the traditional link between education and research. Thus the potential pool of researchers becomes smaller and research monies for training programs for dental investigators, particularly in clinical research, decreases. This year a surprising number of articles are concerned with manpower as it relates to research priorities. So, it is indeed a time that both the profession and the scientific community find filled with controversy and frustration. Yet never has there been a time that offers more in challenges and rewards.