Tetracycline-coated polytetrafluoroethylene barrier membranes in the treatment of intraosseous periodontal lesions

Background: Periodontal pathogens are detrimental to periodontal healing in barrier membrane-assisted periodontal therapy. Tetracycline-coating of bar rier membranes may reduce levels of infecting pathogens. This study evaluat ed the clinical and microbiological effects of tetracycline-coated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (T-ePTFE) barrier membranes in the treatment of 2- to 3-wall intraosseous periodontal lesions around mandibular molars. Methods: Eleven patients received non-coated barrier membranes (ePTFE) and 11 patients received T-ePTFE barrier membranes. Tetracycline coating was pe rformed by placing ePTFE membranes first in a 5% tridodecylmethylammonium c hloride solution and then in a basic 3% tetracycline solution. Microbiologi cal examination included conventional culture and DNA probe analyses. Barri er membranes were removed 6 weeks after insertion. Results: At baseline, the periodontal lesion depth averaged 8.0 mm in the e PTFE treated group and 7.4 mm in the T-ePTFE group. At 1 year post-treatmen t, the mean gain of probing attachment was 1.9 mm in the ePTFE group and 3. 3 mm in the T-ePTFE group (P = 0.02). At 3 minutes after membrane placement , suspected periodontal pathogens were detected in several ePTFE membranes but only in one T-ePTFE membrane. At 6 weeks, all membranes showed periodon tal pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis Fusobacterium species, Pe ptostreptococcus micros, Bacteroides forsythus, and motile rods. Conclusions: This study suggests that the use of tetracycline-coated ePTFE barrier membranes can result in additional gain of clinical periodontal att achment, most likely due to the antimicrobial properties of tetracycline du ring initial healing.