The results of this trial indicated that regenerative periodontal surgery with EMD offers an additional benefit in terms of CAL gains, PPD reductions and predictability of outcomes with respect to papilla preservation flaps alone.

The aim of this controlled, clinical study was to evaluate guided tissue regeneration using a bioabsorbable membrane in periodontal intraosseous defects. Forty patients, each contributing one defect > or =4 mm in depth participated. The control group (18 individuals) received conventional flap therapy, while the test group (22 individuals) was treated using the bioabsorbable membrane, Guidor. Clinical assessments were made by one examiner, blinded with respect to treatment group, at baseline, 6 and 12 months following surgery. Baseline probing pocket depths of 7.7+/-1.4 mm in the membrane group and 7.6+/-1.9 mm in the control group were measured. Twelve month results showed a significant clinical attachment level gain in both control (1.1+/-1.8 mm), and membrane group (1.3+/-2.1 mm). Probing pocket depth reduction of 2.6+/-1.9 mm and 2.7+/-1.9 mm was observed in the respective groups. Bone sounding showed a non-significant gain of 0.4+/-1.8 mm and 0.6+/-1.4 mm at membrane and control sites, respectively. Radiographic evaluation confirmed these results. There were no significant differences found between treatment groups for any of the tested variables. Smoking had a negative effect on healing in both groups. In conclusion, clinical and radiographic results indicate that guided tissue regeneration using a bioabsorbable membrane at intraosseous defects did not predictably achieve greater clinical attachment level gain nor bone gain when compared to conventional flap therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a clinical and a microbiological test for monitoring tissue condition during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) and to compare their diagnostic characteristics at implant and tooth sites. Twelve female (age: 37-72 years) and 7 male patients (age: 26-83 years) were evaluated in this study on the basis of availability to follow a rigid SPT program. Patients had received a complete periodontal examination at 1 and 5 years after implant placement. This included standardized radiographs obtained at implants and matching control teeth. One implant site and one tooth site per patient were followed during the last 2 years of the SPT program. At each recall visit microbiological samples were analyzed according to DNA/RNA analysis identifying periodontal pathogens (IAI Pado Test 4.5, Institute for Applied Immunology, Zuchwil, Switzerland). Presence or absence of bleeding on probing at these sites was also noted using a standardized probing force of 0.25 N (Audio Probe, ESRO, Thalwil ZH, Switzerland). The percentage number of recall visits with positive bacteriological test results and positive BOP scores were calculated. Disease progression at the sites was defined if the annual increase in probing depth was > or = 0.5 mm/year (2.5 mm in 5 years) or if the annual decrease in CADIA values (Computer Assisted Densitometric Image Analysis) was more than -0.7 per year (-3.5 in 5 years). Changes below these values were considered as negative test results indicating stability of the sites. The diagnostic characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values) of BOP and microbiological tests alone or in combination were then calculated using two-by-two tables. By application of increasing thresholds of BOP frequencies set for definition of positive test outcome (BOP > or = 10% > or = 20% > or = 25% > or = 50% > or = 75% > or = 90% or the combined BOP > or = 75%, but DNA positive > or = 10%, > or = 25% > or = 34% > or = 50% > or = 67% > or = 90%) receiver operator characteristics curves (ROC) were constructed for teeth and implants. The areas under the ROC curves were calculated and compared by means of chi-square tests. The results indicated statistically significant better diagnostic characteristics of both tests at implants compared to teeth. The inclusion of an additional microbiological test significantly enhanced the diagnostic characteristics of BOP alone at teeth as well as at implants.

Conditions following incorporation of fixed reconstructions, at endosseous titanium implants augmented at local bony dehiscence and fenestration defects using a bioabsorbable Resolut membrane were studied in 7 patients. Fixture stability, radiographic marginal bone levels and peri-implant soft tissue status were evaluated at 21 membrane treated and 17 control fixtures (installed in regions of adequate bone volume), following a 2-year period of functional loading. Prosthetic reconstructions were removed and clinical examination and Periotest values revealed that all fixtures were stable. All peri-implant soft tissues were clinically healthy. The mean probing depths at buccal sites for fixtures with original dehiscence (n = 10) and fenestration (n = 11) defects were 1.6 +/- 0.7 mm and 1.2 +/- 0.4 mm respectively. The control fixture group had a mean buccal probing depth of 1.4 +/- 0.6 mm. At abutment connection radiograph membrane treated fixtures had significantly lower marginal bone levels than control fixtures, indicating that optimal bone regeneration was not achieved at all defects. Mean radiographic bone loss 23-27 months following delivery of fixed reconstructions for original dehiscence and fenestration defect fixtures was 0.7 +/- 0.8 mm and 0.8 +/- 0.6 mm respectively at mesial surfaces, and 0.8 +/- 0.7 mm and 0.6 +/- 0.5 mm at distal surfaces. In the control fixture group a mean loss of 0.7 +/- 0.5 mm at mesial surfaces and 0.5 +/- 0.4 mm at distal surfaces was found. Results showed no significant difference in the rate of bone loss following functional loading between membrane treated and control fixtures.