title: Tetracycline-coated polytetrafluoroethylene barrier membranes in the treatment of intraosseous periodontal lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontal pathogens are detrimental to periodontal healing in barrier membrane-assisted periodontal therapy. Tetracycline-coating of barrier membranes may reduce levels of infecting pathogens. This study evaluated 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 performed by placing ePTFE membranes first in a 5% tridodecylmethylammonium chloride solution and then in a basic 3% tetracycline solution. Microbiological examination included conventional culture and DNA probe analyses. Barrier membranes were removed 6 weeks after insertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the periodontal lesion depth averaged 8.0 mm in the ePTFE treated group and 7.4 mm in the T-ePTFE group. At 1 year post-treatment, 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 periodontal pathogens, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium species, Peptostreptococcus 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 attachment, most likely due to the antimicrobial properties of tetracycline during initial healing.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-0641, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zarkesh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nowzari
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slots
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000601:surgery; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D013752:Tetracycline