Methods: Thirty nine patients (mean age: 53.1±8.6 years) with periodontitis and narrow vertical bone defect were enrolled. Subjects were randomly assigned either the calcium-phosphate bone cement graft group (test: n=20) or open-flap debridement alone group (control: n=19). Clinical measurements were performed at baseline and at 3, 6 months, and radiographs were taken at baseline and at 6 months. The Student t-test was used for statistical analyses.
Results: Gingival index and plaque index were not statistically different between groups at baseline and at 3, 6 months. At 6 months, mean probing depth (PD) was reduced from 6.80±1.60 mm to 3.50±1.67 mm (p<0.0001) (PD reduction: 3.30±1.17 mm), and the mean clinical attachment level (CAL) gain was 1.95±1.70 mm (p<0.0001) in the test group. In the control group, PD was reduced from 6.53±1.87 mm to 4.11±2.13 mm (p<0.0001) (PD reduction: 2.42±1.77 mm) and CAL gain was 1.53±2.37 mm (p<0.05). The gain in radiographic bone height was 1.03±1.00 mm (p<0.0001) in the test group and 0.45±0.70 mm (p<0.05) in the control group. Comparison of PD reduction, CAL gain, and radiographic bone height gain between groups were not statistically different at 6 months.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated a trend for improved clinical outcome with the injectable calcium-phosphate bone cement compared to open-flap debridement. The study is on-going and upon completion will have 90 patients enrolled and 12 months observation period. As the study continues, more data will be available for analysis to establish whether the bone cement is a suitable or alternative graft material.