A prospective multi-center study evaluating periodontal regeneration for class II furcation invasions and intrabony defects after treatment with a bioabsorbable barrier membrane: 1-year results

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTER STUDY was to evaluate a resorbable barrier membrane designed for periodontal regeneration. Thirty-one Class II furcations and 30 two- and three-wall intrabony defects were treated by flap debridement and bioabsorbable barrier membrane augmentation. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated in terms of changes in vertical probing depth (PD), horizontal probing depth (HPD), clinical attachment levels (GAL), and recession. Five centers participated in the study. Changes in clinical parameters are reported by individual center and by the average of the centers. All patients had either one molar with a Class II furcation or an intrabony defect. Baseline data were taken on the day of surgery. Post-treatment data were collected at 6 months and 1 year. This report is based on the 1-year findings. The average initial PD for Class II furcations was 6.1 mm. At 1 year the average PD was reduced to 3.6 mm, a 2.5 mm change. These differences were clinically and statistically significant (P < 0.0001). There was an average gain of 2.1 mm of clinical attachment (P < 0.0001) and 0.4 mm of recession (P < 0.04). There was a mean of 1.8 mm change in HPD (P < 0.0001). For intrabony defects, at 1 year there was an average PD reduction of 4.1 mm (P < 0.0001) and a mean gain of CAL of 2.9 mm (P < 0.0001). At 1 year the average recession was 0.9 mm which was statistically significant. When treatment outcomes were compared between centers there were no differences for either group of treated defects. There were differences between centers when baseline PD for furcations and intrabony sites were compared. The results of this study indicate that clinically and statistically significant improvements in PD, GAL, and HPD occurred after treatment of Class II furcations and 2- to 3-wall intrabony defects with the bioabsorbable periodontal membrane.