[Clinical evaluation of hydroxyapatite implants in human periodontal osseous defects. Clinical observations over a one-year period following surgery].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of implants of granular hydroxyapatite (HAP). HAP was implanted into twenty-five vertical bone defects of twenty-one patients as bone graft material. Various clinical and radiographic examinations were performed postoperatively over a twelve month period. Redness and swelling of the gingiva, gingival bleeding, postoperative pain and increased tooth mobility developed transiently, but they all recovered in time. Open wounds and out-flow of HAP disappeared within the first month. After twelve months, mean probing depth decrease was 3.7 mm and clinical attachment gain was 2.5 mm. In all cases there was radiographic evidence of alveolar bone repair. These results suggest that HAP is clinically effective as a bone graft in periodontal therapy.