Oxidized cellulose mesh. I. Biodegradable membrane in periodontal surgery.

Regeneration of tissues after surgery has been demonstrated using a variety of membranes placed after surgical exposure of periodontal defects. In this study, biodegradable oxidized cellulose mesh was used in human subjects to improve post-operative healing. Healing was good, with all pockets less than 3 mm post-operatively. Less recession occurred in some of the sites which received the mesh, but this was not significantly different from the sites which did not receive the mesh. A varied healing response was noted in different sites and in different individuals. A number of factors may determine the nature and extent of the healing response, but these are ill defined. Histological investigation of the healing response of the tissues was not possible in this clinical study. The study has shown that oxidized cellulose mesh has the potential to enhance healing after surgery, and it may be useful as an alternative biodegradable material for use in the technique of guided tissue regeneration.