New clinical materials and techniques in guided tissue regeneration

Aim: To review the evidence on using Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) techn iques and materials in various clinical circumstances. Method: Literature r eview. Main outcome measures: The success of GTR techniques and materials i n halting or reversing the destruction of tooth attachment apparatus caused by progressive periodontal disease. Results: GTR and osseous grafting are the two techniques with the most clinical and histological documentation of periodontal regeneration. Conclusions: GTR materials, whether non-resorbab le or bioabsorbable, give similar clinical results. GTR procedures have bee n demonstrated to be clinically effective in treating infrabony osseous def ects, recession defects, preserving alveolar bone in recent extraction site s and in some types of furcation defects. GTR procedures are technique sens itive and are adversely affected by poor home oral hygiene care, poor follo w-up professional maintenance care and smoking.