A LATEX MEMBRANE, AS AN ALTERNATIVE DEVICE IN THE GTR TECHNIQUE - PRELIMINARY-REPORT ON ITS BIOCOMPATIBILITY

Polymeric materials are of widespread use for many clinical applicatio ns, including dentistry. Periodontal guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a technique developed to treat periodontal disease: it implies that new connective tissue attachment and bone regeneration are achieved, whereas epithelial migration is prevented by the placement of a barrie r membrane. This study has focused on the toxicity in vitro of differe nt polymeric membranes, either commercial or experimental, with a late x rubber membrane being of special interest for use as an implant mate rial in guided tissue regeneration in periodontology. A cell culture s ystem tested by quantitative assay methods offered a reliable tool whi ch provided meaningful results on the first level biocompatibility of such membranes.