EVALUATION OF AN ABSORBABLE COLLAGEN MEMBRANE IN TREATING CLASS-II FURCATION DEFECTS

RECENT RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED upon the utilization of an absorbable coll agen membrane in guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Concern exists as t o whether this type of membrane is beneficial in the treatment of peri odontal defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a type I bovine collagen membrane on treatment of Class II furcatio n defects. Twelve systemically healthy patients (six male and six fema le, ages 32 to 68) were treated. Each had bilateral mandibular furcati on defects with attachment loss greater than or equal to 6 mm. Prior t o surgery all patients completed initial therapy including scaling and root planing. At the time of the surgery, teeth were randomly assigne d to either a control (flap debridement alone) or test (flap debrideme nt plus collagen membrane) group. Data were collected on the day of su rgery, and 2, 4, and 6 months post-surgery and at the 12 month re-entr y surgery. Clinical measurements included probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR), stent to base of def ect (SB), crestal bone to base of defect (CB), width of defect, and mo bility. Statistical analysis was per formed utilizing the paired t tes t. Both control and test groups demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) im provement at 12 months re-entry in PD, CAL,SB, and CB when compared to the presurgery status. While there is no significant difference in PD , CAL, GR, width of defect, and mobility between control and test grou ps, sites treated with the collagen membrane had significantly higher bone fill (SB and CB) at re-entry. A significant improvement of furcat ion horizontal bone repair and defect improvement was noted in the col lagen membranes-treated sites as compared to the presurgery status. No foreign body reaction was observed in either group during this study. This study suggests that the use of absorbable collagen membrane may have beneficial effects in the treatment of Class II furcal defects.