PERIODONTAL HEALING OF CANINE EXPERIMENTAL GRADE-III FURCATION DEFECTS TREATED WITH AUTOLOGOUS FIBRINOGEN AND ABSORBABLE BARRIER MEMBRANE

Objective-To determine the effects of autologous fibrinogen (AF) and a bsorbable barrier membrane (ABM) on periodontal healing of canine expe rimental grade-III furcation defects. Animals-18 conditioned, laborato ry-source, adult Beagles. Procedure-Defects were developed bilaterally at the second and fourth premolars and maintained for 12 weeks. Defec ts were treated with AF, ABM, AF and ABM, or debridement. Digital subt raction radiography, histologic evaluation, and histomorphometric anal ysis of defect healing was done at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment to determine percentage increases in bone volume, height, area, and le ngth of periodontal regeneration along the perimeter of the defect. Re sults-Comparison of defects at post-treatment intervals indicated sign ificantly greater healing of debridement and AF-treated defects, compa red with ABM-treated defects at 3 months; however, by 6 months, there were no significant differences in defect healing for all histomorphom etric variables. Defects treated with ABM were associated with signifi cantly less root ankylosis than other treatments. Defects treated with debridement had significantly greater increases in bone volume at 6 m onths after treatment, compared with groups treated with ABM. There wa s a significant correlation between regenerated bone area, bone volume , and periodontal regeneration for all treatments at 3 and 6 months af ter treatment. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Use of AF and ABM did not enhance the amount of periodontal healing, compared with debridem ent only. The ABM-treated defects were essentially devoid of root anky losis. Grade-III furcation defects may respond equally well to conserv ative periodontal surgery or guided tissue regenerative techniques. Th e prevention of root ankylosis is a substantial benefit favoring this latter method of treatment.