The use of 2 bioabsorbable barrier membranes in the treatment of interproximal intrabony periodontal defects.
BACKGROUND
The use of barrier membranes in the treatment of periodontal defects is well documented. There has been an increase in the use of bioabsorbable materials which do not require a second surgical procedure for removal. However, there are little data evaluating the efficacy of bioabsorbable membranes in the treatment of intrabony defects. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the regenerative potential of 2 bioabsorbable barrier membranes without the use of grafting materials in the treatment of interdental intrabony defects.


METHODS
Twenty-three 2- or 3-walled intrabony defects were treated in 19 patients with a mean age of 50.4 years. All had completed nonsurgical treatment and a period of supportive periodontal therapy. The sites were randomly chosen to receive a barrier membrane composed of type I bovine collagen (11) or a copolymer of polylactic acid (PGA/PLA;12). A pressure sensitive disc probe was used to evaluate the following criteria at baseline and re-entry: 1) occlusal surface to the apical depth of probe penetration (OS-DP); 2) occlusal surface to the gingival margin (OS-GM); 3) occlusal surface to the alveolar crest (OS-AC); and 4) occlusal surface to the base of the osseous defect (OS-BD). Full thickness mucoperiosteal flaps were reflected to expose the surgical sites. The defects were debrided of the granulomatous tissue, the root surfaces instrumented and conditioned with 4 one-minute applications of 50 mg/ml of tetracycline. The barrier membranes were adapted to cover the defects and the flaps replaced. The postsurgical healing was uneventful and similar in both treatment modalities.


RESULTS
Twenty-three sites were surgically re-entered 6 months from the time of the initial surgery. The deepest probe depth for each site was used for statistical analysis. There was a mean relative attachment gain of 2.58+/-1.90 mm for the collagen, and 2.77+/-2.13 mm for the copolymer. There was a decrease in probing depth of 3.27+/-1.91 mm and 0.69+/-1.35 mm of recession for the collagen. The PGA/PLA copolymer had 3.55+/-2.47 mm reduction in probe depth and 0.78+/-1.14 mm of recession.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicated the bioabsorbable collagen and copolymer membranes resulted in comparable results. A larger sample size would be necessary to determine if one membrane was superior to the other.
Mattson
J S
JS
Creighton University School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology, Omaha, NE 68137, USA.
Gallagher
S J
SJ
Jabro
M H
MH
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002417:Cattle; D003094:Collagen; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers; D013357:Subgingival Curettage; D013499:Surface Properties; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D003094:Collagen; D013752:Tetracycline