Comparative in vitro and vivo evaluation of a dental membrane comprising ovine forestomach matrix

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize, and evaluate a resorbable dental membrane composed of ovine forestomach matrix (OFM) relative to a reconstituted collagen membrane (BG). METHODS: OFM Dental Membrane (OFMdm) and BG were compared in a range of in vitro tests to determine relative device strength, suture retention, elasticity, proteolytic stability and bioactivity. The dental membranes were also compared in an ovine tooth extraction model. RESULTS: OFMdm demonstrated superior tensile break force, proteolytic stability, and bioactivity relative to BG membrane. In the tooth extraction model, both membranes yielded similar outcomes with respect to graft retention and new bone regeneration, and both treatment groups had less deleterious connective tissue compared to the un-grafted group at 4 weeks. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups at 8 or 16 weeks. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrated that OFMdm had favorable in vitro characteristics relative to the BG membrane and was safe and effective in a large animal model of tooth extraction.