Comparison of treatments of infrabony defects with enamel matrix derivative, guided tissue regeneration with a nonresorbable membrane and Widman modified flap - A pilot study

Background, aims: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effic acy of 3 different surgical procedures in the treatment of infrabony defect s: guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with non-resorbable membranes, Widman m odified flap (WMF) and enamel matrix derivative (EMD). Method: 30 patients with an infrabony component greater than or equal to 4 mm were selected. 10 were treated with expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePT FE (Gore - Tex W. L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ? USA)) membranes, 1 0 with WMF and 10 with enamel matrix derivatives (Emdogain(R) ((U) over cap Biora AB Maim, Sweden)). The efficacy of each treatment modality was inves tigated through regression analysis. Probing attachment level (PAL) gain, p robing depth (PD) reduction and gingival recession (REC) variation were ana lyzed. Results: Both Emdogain(R) (enamel matrix derivative) and ePTFE treatment sh ow significant better results as compared to the WMF procedure in which the re were no significant changes in PAL gain and PD reduction at baseline and 1 year after surgery. Conclusions: Results from our analysis suggest that there is no statistical ly significant difference in PAL gain between GTR and EMD. The clinical out comes of this pilot study may be of little significance, considering the sm all number of patients, but it has provided an important base for a control led clinical trial (with a larger number of patients) which is currently in progress.