Socket preservation after an extraction is one of the simplest ways to protect the ridge for a future implant. For many general dentists, though, traditional grafting adds time and steps: mixing particulate, packing it, then placing and securing a membrane. OsteoGen® Plugs from Impladent were designed to make that a single step. If you can place a collagen plug, you can graft.
Here is how OsteoGen Plugs work, the placement technique, and what to expect as the site heals.
What is an OsteoGen Plug?
An OsteoGen Plug is an all-in-one bone graft for extraction sockets. It combines two components:
- OsteoGen® graft crystals: a bioactive, non-ceramic, resorbable calcium apatite bone graft. It is not β-TCP, dense ceramic hydroxyapatite or a biphasic mix of the two.
- A Type I collagen carrier: made from bovine Achilles tendon. The collagen stabilizes the clot, absorbs blood and delivers it to the slowly resorbing graft, and provides a scaffold for keratinized tissue.
Unlike a plain collagen plug, which acts mainly as a wound dressing, an OsteoGen Plug delivers real graft material into the socket.
Why practices use OsteoGen Plugs
- One-step placement: no mixing or packing loose particulate.
- No membrane needed: place the plug and suture over it.
- Less washout: the graft is contained in the collagen carrier, which reduces the risk of particles migrating or washing out.
- Faster chair time and lower cost per site: compared with a separate particulate graft and membrane.
- GP-friendly: an easy way to add socket grafting to routine extractions.
OsteoGen Plug sizes
| Size | Dimensions | Pack sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Slim | 6 mm × 25 mm | 5, 10, 25 |
| Large | 10 mm × 20 mm | 1, 5, 10, 25 |
| X-Large | 15 mm × 20 mm | 5 |
Choose the size that best fits the socket. OsteoGen Plugs have a 4-year shelf life from the date of manufacture, so stocking a box for your extraction days is easy. See current sizes and pricing.
OsteoGen Plug technique, step by step
- Extract and debride. Remove the tooth as atraumatically as possible and thoroughly debride the socket. The ideal case is an extraction where the socket walls are preserved.
- Place the plug. Insert the OsteoGen Plug dry into the socket. It absorbs blood, expands slightly for a snug fit and stabilizes the clot while delivering the graft.
- Suture. Approximate the tissue and place a crisscross suture over the plug to hold it in place. No membrane is needed.
- Let it heal. As the graft resorbs, the collagen carrier and calcium apatite crystals act as scaffolds for new bone and soft tissue.
- Monitor radiographically. Follow the site on X-rays until it is ready for implant placement.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for use and your own clinical judgment.
Healing timeline: what to expect on X-rays
OsteoGen is designed to resorb at a pace that allows it to be replaced by the patient's own bone, so it doesn't leave behind non-resorbed particles that can interfere with implant placement.
- Day of surgery: the graft is radiolucent.
- 3–6 months: the site becomes radiopaque as host bone replaces the graft. Impladent describes replacement by host bone in about 4–6 months.
- Implant placement: once the site is fully radiopaque, enough host bone is considered to have formed to proceed with the implant.
Need a strip or particulate instead?
OsteoGen also comes as OsteoGen Strips, a mineralized collagen strip. Use them to cover and contain particulate in extraction sites, for sinus lifts and ridge expansions, and around immediate implants. For larger defects, see OsteoGen particulate bone graft.
Watch OsteoGen Plugs in use
Webinar: Dr. Tim Kosinski explains OsteoGen Plugs and their clinical use
OsteoGen Plug clinical case following extraction
Frequently asked questions
Do OsteoGen Plugs need a membrane?
No. The plug is placed into the socket and held with a crisscross suture. The collagen carrier contains the graft, so a separate membrane isn't needed.
How is an OsteoGen Plug different from a collagen plug?
A standard collagen plug acts mainly as a wound dressing. An OsteoGen Plug combines a collagen carrier with OsteoGen bioactive resorbable calcium apatite graft crystals, so it delivers bone graft material to the socket.
How long until I can place an implant?
The site goes from radiolucent at placement to radiopaque over about 3–6 months as host bone replaces the graft. Once the site is fully radiopaque, implant placement can proceed.
What sizes are available?
Slim (6 × 25 mm) comes in packs of 5, 10 and 25. Large (10 × 20 mm) comes in packs of 1, 5, 10 and 25. X-Large (15 × 20 mm) comes in a 5-pack.
Should the plug be hydrated before placement?
No. The plug is placed dry into the socket, where it absorbs the patient's blood.
OsteoGen® is a registered trademark of Impladent Ltd. Product information is summarized from the manufacturer's published product information. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for use.
