Background: Several studies have documented the clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with non-resorbable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes and enamel matrix proteins (EMP) in the treatment of infrabony defects. The objective of this controlled clinical study was to compare the clinical outcomes of 3 surgical modalities in the treatment of deep interproximal infrabony defects.
Methods: Ninety (90) defects in 90 healthy subjects affected by chronic periodontitis were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups by blocking to prognostic variables. The test group was treated with the application of EMP and the simplified papilla preservation (SPP) technique; the second group was treated with titanium-reinforced ePFTE membranes and the SPP technique; and the third group was treated with the SPP technique used as access flap control procedure. No differences were observed in terms of baseline oral hygiene and defect characteristics among the 3 groups, indicating that the blocking approach was effective. A stringent infection control program was adopted for 1 year.
Results: The 1-year results indicated that: 1) all treatment modalities resulted in clinically significant improvements in clinical attachment levels (CAL) and reduction in probing depth (PD); 2) a statistically significant treatment effect was demonstrated comparing the EMP test, the membrane control, and the flap control groups in terms of CAL gains; 3) both the EMP test and the membrane control groups showed significant CAL gains compared to the flap control group; 4) a statistically significantly greater amount of CAL gain was demonstrated in GTR-treated compared to EMP-treated patients; 5) deeper residual probing depths but smaller increases in gingival recession were demonstrated following EMP therapy; and 6) smoking habits reduced the clinical outcomes of both regenerative procedures.
Conclusions: The use of a regenerative procedure is indicated in the treatment of deep vertical bony defects since both the regenerative techniques (GTR and EMD) in the present study resulted in clinically and statistically significant improvements in clinical parameters compared to the access flap procedure. The use of EMP can be helpful in esthetically-sensitive sites and in reducing patient morbidity.