The use of bovine porous bone mineral in combination with enamel matrix proteins or with an autologous fibrinogen/fibronectin system in the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects in humans.

BACKGROUND

Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) and autologous fibrinogen/fibronectin system (AFFS) are agents that have been shown to be effective in periodontal regeneration. Their use in combination with graft materials, however, has not been extensively examined. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of bovine porous bone mineral (BPBM) used in combination with an EMD or in combination with AFFS as regenerative treatments for periodontal intrabony defects in humans.

METHODS

Twenty-three paired intrabony defects were surgically treated using a split mouth design. Defects were treated with BPBM either combined with EMD (BPBM/EMD) or with AFFS (BPBM/AFFS). The clinical parameters evaluated included changes in attachment level, probing depth, and defect fill as revealed by re-entry surgeries at 6 months.

RESULTS

Preoperative probing depths, attachment levels, and transoperative bone measurements were similar for the 2 treatment groups. Postsurgical measurements taken at 6 months revealed that both treatment modalities resulted in clinically and statistically significant improvements in probing depth resolution, clinical attachment gain, and defect fill as compared to baseline. Both therapy modalities improved clinical parameters as compared to baseline, but the differences found between the groups were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that EMD and AFFS used in combination with BPBM have similar effects in promoting probing depth reduction, clinical attachment gain, and defect fill when employed as regenerative therapy for intraosseous lesions in humans. A study involving a larger sample size is necessary to statistically confirm the equivalence between the 2 treatment modalities.