In the last decade guided tissue regeneration (GTR) therapy has evolved in both surgical technique and membrane technology. Given new applications and membrane materials, not only must new surgical techniques be critiqued, but membrane designs must be critically examined as well. A review of historical membrane development suggests that 5 design criteria are essential: 1) tissue integration; 2) cell-occlusivity; 3) clinical manageability; 4) spacemaking; and 5) biocompatibility. These criteria may be applied to select appropriate materials and designs for specific GTR applications.

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