Bone morphogenetic protein bound to a specific collagen has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration as an alternative to autogenous bone graft for sinus augmentation and deficient maxillary anterior ridges associated with extraction sockets. Bone regenerated with protein therapy has certain advantages, including the fact that residual graft particles do not have to be replaced by the host’s immune and inflammatory reactions. A significant disadvantage of the protein-collagen sponge, particularly in the oral cavity, is that combination protein therapy does not maintain space for new bone growth. This limits the applicability of this protein therapy in other oral indications. Various techniques to create space for bone growth stimulated by the protein-collagen combination will be examined so that additional oral indications can be treated predictably.

David L. Cochran, DDS, PhD, received his postgraduate degrees from the Medical College of Virginia and further training in periodontology from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr Cochran is currently professor and chairman of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Dental School. A member of many professional dental organizations, he currently is past president of the American Academy of Periodontology and treasurer of the Academy of Osseointegration. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a fellow of the American College of Dentistry and the International College of Dentistry. Dr Cochran has published numerous scientific articles and abstracts on various topics in periodontal biochemistry and implant dentistry. He has received awards for his research work at both the national and international levels.

Approximate Running Time: 45 minutes