Treatment of wide, shallow, and predominantly 1-wall intrabony defects with a bioabsorbable membrane: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The regenerative therapy of non-contained intrabony defects achieves better results when bioabsorbable membranes are combined with a filling material. The purpose of the present study was to analyze clinical and radiographic effectiveness of a space-making bioabsorbable membrane in the treatment of wide and shallow intrabony defects characterized by a relevant 1-wall component. METHODS: Eighteen pairs of angular bone defects were selected in 18 healthy, non-smoking patients (age range 30 to 66 years). Prior to the surgical phase, patients were enrolled in a strict periodontal program including oral hygiene instructions and scaling and root planing (presurgical full-mouth plaque score <10%). Using a split-mouth design, 18 sites were randomly assigned to receive guided tissue regeneration (GTR) using a bioabsorbable membrane (test group) and 18 to receive open flap debridement alone (control group). Clinical treatment outcome was evaluated 12 months postoperatively for changes in probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and position of gingival margin (REC) and radiographically for bone changes. Results: Open flap debridement and GTR yielded statistically significant (P<0.0001) PD reduction (2.39+/- 0.92 mm and 3.44+/- 0.78 mm), CAL gain (1.50+/- 0.99 mm and 2.89 +/- 0.90 mm), increased REC (-0.89 +/- 0.58 mm and -0.56 +/- 0.92 mm) and bone fill (1.05+/- 0.94 mm and 2.13+/- 1.21 mm) when 12-month data were compared to baseline. The differences between test and control groups were statistically significant for all parameters (P<0.007) except for REC (P=0.25). CONCLUSION: The use of this bioabsorbable membrane would seem to be effective in the treatment of intrabony defects with unfavorable architecture without the use of filling materials.