title: Guided tissue regeneration: a decision-making model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has the potential to promote periodontal regeneration, which is one of the goals of periodontal surgery. While many successful reports of periodontal regeneration using barrier membranes exist in the literature, considerable heterogeneity of GTR outcomes is more typical of current reports. The reasons for this variability are numerous, but could be attributed to differences in surgical skills and case selection. There is a need for a current analysis of the factors affecting success and the formation of evidence-based treatment guidelines for GTR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Available English literature pertaining to guided tissue regeneration was reviewed. Sources included peer-reviewed journal publications, online resources, and textbooks. Specific consideration was made to factors affecting GTR outcomes, especially in the context of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors, including patient systemic conditions and compliance, defect features, local factors and surgical techniques and materials, that influence GTR outcomes were analyzed and entered into a decision-making model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A decision-making model was formulated based upon current evidence regarding factors that influence guided tissue regeneration outcomes. Meticulous case selection based upon known influential variables may help to minimize inconsistency in GTR outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Room 3349, 1011 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1078, USA. jillbash@umich.edu
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bashutski
authors.forename: Tae-Ju
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hsun-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Hom-Lay
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003663:Decision Trees; D003773:Dental Plaque; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018579:Patient Selection; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial