EXPANDED POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE MEMBRANES AND CONNECTIVE-TISSUE GRAFTS SUPPORT BONE REGENERATION FOR CLOSING MANDIBULAR CLASS-II FURCATIONS

TWENTY-FOUR MANDIBULAR BUCCAL CLASS II furcation lesions in 12 subject s were treated with reconstructive periodontal therapy including citri c acid root treatment and replaced flap surgery. Twelve (12) of the le sions received expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes to c over the furcation entrance (ePTFE group) whereas the remaining 12 les ions received a connective tissue graft over the furcation (CTG group) . Clinical assessments, including probing depth, probing attachment le vel, location of gingival margin, direct bone probing, and defect volu me, were taken at baseline and at 12 months reentry. In the ePTFE grou p 30% of the defect volume filled with bone; 36% of the defects exhibi ted complete bone closure. In the CTG group 19% of the defect volume f illed with bone and 18% of these defects exhibited complete bone closu re. There were no meaningful clinical differences between treatment gr oups except in horizontal probing depth change (P less-than-or-equal-t o 0.05). This study suggests that connective tissue grafts and ePTFE m embranes have comparable potential in supporting bone regeneration in mandibular Class II furcation lesions. Further clinical trials with la rger numbers of patients and a longer evaluation period are needed to fully compare these procedures.