CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF NATURAL CORAL AND POROUS HYDROXYAPATITE IMPLANTS IN PERIODONTAL BONE-LESIONS - RESULTS OF A 1-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

This study examines the suitability of 2 bone graft substitutes, natur al coral skeleton (NCS) and porous hydroxyapatite (PHA) for treating p eriodontal bone defects in human subjects, and compares them to debrid ement alone (DEBR). A total of 30 sites in 10 patients were treated. M easurements were made before treatment and during surgical reexaminati on 12 months after treatment on lesions filled with NCS (10 sites), PH A (10 sites), or DEBR (10 sites). There was no significant difference in the use of NCS or PHA for 1, 2 wall, or combined defects for the gr oup of parameters measured in this study (clinical probing depth, clin ical attachment, gingival recession, bone fill, % bone fill, and crest remodelling). Statistical analysis (Wilcoxon non-parametric test for paired values and ANOVA for repeated measurements) revealed the benefi cial effects of using each the biomaterials (57.4% for NCS, 58.1% for PHA, p<0.86) as opposed to simple debridement (22.2%; p<0.002; p<0.004 ).