Objectives: To report on the clinical results of GTR in combination with deproteinized bovine bone in the treatment of intrabony defects, 1 and 5 years after membrane placement.
Methods: 15 patients, with at least one intrabony defect with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥ 7 mm and radiographic presence of an intrabony component (IC) ≥ 4 mm were treated with a PLA/PGA bioabsorbable membrane (Resolut XT®). Prior to stabilization of the membrane, the defect was filled with deproteinized bovine bone impregnated with gentamicin sulfate 2% mg/ml (Garamycin®). Standardized intraoral radiographs were taken prior to treatment and at the controls after 1- and 5 years.
Results: At baseline, the average PPD was 9.2±1.1 mm and the average probing attachment level (PAL) was 10.1±1.6 mm. The radiographic bone level (RBL) was 10.4±2.1 mm and an IC of 6.2±2.5 mm was present. One year after GTR, treatment had resulted in a PAL gain of 3.8±1.8 mm, a residual PPD of 4.2±1.3 mm, a RBL gain of 4.7±2.0 mm, and a residual IC of 2.1±1.2mm. At the 5-year examination, one patient did not show-up and 2 patients had lost the treated teeth. However, both teeth were endodontically treated and progressive periodontal destruction was not an apparent reason for extraction. At the 5-year control, the PAL gain was 4.1±1.6 mm, the residual PPD was 4.6±1.2 mm, the RBL gain was 4.5±1.9 mm, and the residual IC was 1.9±1.2mm. There were no statistically significant differences between 1- and 5-year control data (P > 0.05), regarding any of the evaluated parameters. At the 5-year control, only one patient has lost more than 2mm from the PAL gain obtained 1 year after treatment.
Conclusion: It seems that the results of GTR in combination with deproteinized bovine bone in the treatment of intrabony defects are stable on a long-term basis.