TREATMENT OF CLASS-II FURCATION INVOLVEMENTS IN HUMANS WITH BIORESORBABLE AND NONRESORBABLE GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION BARRIERS - A RANDOMIZED MULTICENTER STUDY

IN THIS MULTI-CENTER STUDY 38 patients with contralateral molar Class II furcation defects were treated with GTR therapy using a bioresorbab le matrix barrier (test) and a nonresorbable expanded polytetrafluoroe thylene (ePTFE) barrier (control). Following flap elevation, scaling, root planing, and removal of granulation tissue, each device was adjus ted to cover the furcation defect. The flaps were repositioned and sut ured to complete coverage of the barriers. A second surgical procedure was performed at control sites after 4 to 6 weeks to remove the nonre sorbable barrier. Before treatment and 12 months postsurgery all patie nts were examined and probing depths, clinical attachment levels, and position of the gingival margin were recorded. The primary response va riable was the change in clinical attachment level in a horizontal dir ection (CAL-H change). Both treatment procedures reduced the probing d epths (P less than or equal to 0.001). Statistically significant gain of clinical attachment level in both horizontal and vertical direction was found at the test sites. At control sites gain of attachment in h orizontal direction was statistically significant. The gain of CAL-H w as 2.2 mm at test sites compared to 1.4 mm at control sites (P less th an or equal to 0.05). At test sites, the gingival margin was maintaine d close to the pre-surgical level (0.3 mm), whereas at control sites g ingival recession was evident (0.9 mm), the difference being statistic ally significant (P less than or equal to 0.01). Postsurgical complica tions, such as swelling and pain were more frequent following the cont rol treatment (P less than or equal to 0.05).