EVALUATION OF GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION IN INTERPROXIMAL DEFECTS .2.MEMBRANE AND BONE VERSUS MEMBRANE ALONE

This study clinically evaluates the use of expanded polytetrafluoroeth ylene (ePTFE) membranes with or without the addition of decalcified fr eeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) in the treatment of interproximal in traosseous defects. 25 patients (26 paired defects) diagnosed with adv anced periodontitis and having at least 2 bilateral interproximal prob ing depths of greater than or equal to 6 mm participated in the study. After the hygiene phase, measurements were made to determine soft tis sue recession, pocket depth, and clinical attachment levels. Defects f rom each pair were randomly treated with either ePTFE alone (control), or ePTFE+DFDBA (experimental). Measurements were made during the surg ery to determine crestal resorption, defect resolution and defect fill . Membranes were removed at 4 to 6 weeks. At 6 months, the soft and ha rd tissue measurements (surgical reentry) were repeated. Both groups s howed statistically significant improvement when compared to baseline (p<0.001), but no difference was determined between groups. Control si tes showed a 50% bone fill and experimental sites had 54% bone fill. T he defect resolution changes were also similar between control and exp erimental groups, respectively (80%, 74%). For this short-term study, it was concluded that either technique was beneficial for the treatmen t of intraosseous defects. Other studies are needed to assess the long term stability of the improvements rendered by these treatments.