CEMENTUM-IMPREGNATED GELATIN MEMBRANE - ITS EFFECT ON PERIODONTAL TISSUE REGENERATION

This study was designed to evaluate the ability of cementum-impregnate d gelatine membranes (CGM) to stimulate regeneration of periodontal li gament following surgery. Three monkeys with no periodontal disease we re used. Following flap elevation, recession type defects were created on the buccal side of maxillary lateral incisors and second premolars , and roots were subsequently planed. Experimental sites received CGM at approximately 2-3 mm below the cementoenamel junction while control sites received gelatine membrane (GM) free of cementum. Wounds were a llowed to heal for 3 weeks, during which time daily plaque control mea sures were maintained. Tissues prepared from sacrificed animals reveal ed that experimental specimens exhibited formation of new cementum, ne w bone, and periodontal ligament. Control specimens exhibited connecti ve tissue adhesion without either new cementum or significant new bone formation. Histometric analysis showed that the average vertical grow th of cementum (NC) and bone (NB) at experimental sites were 3.48 +/- 0.29 and 0.64 +/- 0.43 mm, respectively. At the control sites the corr esponding results were NC = 0.09 +/- 0.03 and NB = 0.06 +/- 0.28. It w as concluded that placement of CGM resulted in significantly greater p ostsurgical cementum and bone formation than that of GM alone. (C) 199 5 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.