title: Porous titanium granules in the treatment of mandibular Class II furcation defects: a consecutive case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The osteoconductive potential of titanium is interesting from the perspective of periodontal surgery and reconstitution of osseous defects. The aim of the present consecutive case series is to evaluate a surgical strategy based on the use of porous titanium granules (PTG) in the treatment of Class II buccal furcation defects in mandibular molars in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical intervention with PTG used as a bone graft substitute was performed in 10 patients with 10 mandibular Class II buccal furcation defects. Clinical parameters (probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and horizontal and vertical bone sounding) and radiographic measurements of vertical furcation height were compared among baseline (presurgery), 6, and 12 months (post-surgery). The significance level (α) was set at 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With respect to vertical and horizontal bone sounding measurements, CAL, and GR, no significant improvements between baseline and the 12-month examination were seen. Both PD and radiographic vertical furcation height were significantly reduced between baseline and 12 months. When comparing the baseline to 12-month data, a significantly lower GI score was seen but the BOP score was unchanged. None of the treated teeth showed radiographic signs of root resorption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that PTG is safe to use in close proximity to root surfaces, but no significant improvements in clinical endpoints of defect resolution were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Odontology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. johancw@odont.uio.no
authors.forename: Johan Caspar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wohlfahrt
authors.forename: Ståle Petter
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lyngstadaas
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heijl
authors.forename: Anne Merete
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aass
mesh_terms: D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016062:Porosity; D011859:Radiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D014025:Titanium