SMALL VERSUS LARGE PARTICLES OF DEMINERALIZED FREEZE-DRIED BONE ALLOGRAFTS IN HUMAN INTRABONY PERIODONTAL DEFECTS

VARIOUS PARTICLE SIZES of demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (D FDBA) are currently used to treat patients with periodontal osseous de fects. However, the effect of particle size on the healing of human in trabony periodontal defects is unknown since there have been no direct clinical comparisons. The purpose of this study was to compare the bo ny defect resolution obtained using two different particle size ranges of DFDBA. Cortical bone from a single donor was processed and ground to final particle sizes of 250mu to 500mu or 850mu to 1,000mu using an analytic mill. Paired interproximal intrabony periodontal defects in 11 patients were grafted with DFDBA. Soft and hard tissue measurements were made using an electronic constant-force probe at the initial and reentry surgeries. Treated sites in 10 patients were reevaluated by r eentry approximately 6 months postoperatively. Mean bony defect fill w as 1.66 mm for the large particle group and 1.32 mm for the small part icle group. There was no statistically significant difference in bony fill between defects grafted with the different particle sizes of DFDB A when used in humans.