The guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique is widely used in periradicular surgery. However, there is still some controversy regarding the effectiveness of GBR in promoting bone healing after periradicular surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the resorbable membrane on the osteointegration of immediate implants in sites with periradicular lesion that had been removed by periradicular surgery.

Six roots of lower second premolars and 15 roots of lower third and fourth premolars of dogs were used as control and experimental teeth, respectively. Periradicular lesions were induced only in the experimental teeth. Twelve weeks later, the control and experimental teeth were extracted and implants were placed immediately. Periradicular lesions were removed with osteotomy, curettage and saline irrigation. Resorbable membranes were used in experimental group 1 but not in experimental group 2. After 12 week of healing period, the implants were clinically not mobile and showed no signs of infection. Data obtained by histomorphometric analysis were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test.

The control group showed a significantly higher bone to implant contact (BIC) (74.14±16.18) than experimental group 1 (40.28±15.96) and 2 (48.70±17.75)(p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between experimental group 1 and 2.

Although BIC in experimental groups were lower than in control group, immediate implant can be successfully placed at extraction socket with periradicular lesion and osseous defect. However, the use of resorbable membrane in bony defect created during periradicular surgery was questioned.