Materials
Barrier membrane
A barrier membrane is a thin sheet placed over a bone graft or gum defect to keep soft tissue out and give new bone room to grow.
Gum tissue grows faster than bone. Without a barrier, the gum can grow into a graft site and crowd out the slower bone. A barrier membrane blocks the gum tissue and protects the space under it. A review in the NIH library says barrier membranes prevent soft tissue invasion from the mucosa and create an underlying space to support bone growth. Some membranes are made of collagen and dissolve on their own. Others are non-absorbable and must be taken out later. The dentist chooses by site and by the plan. The membrane is used with bone graft material in bone grafting and in socket preservation. See our bone grafting page.