Open flap debridement and guided tissue regeneration after 10 years in infrabony defects

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of the 10-year results after open flap debridement (OFD) and guided tissue regeneration (GTR) therapy of infrabony defects in a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Materials and methods: In 16 periodontitis patients OFD or polylactide acetyltributyl citrate barriers (GTR; n=23) were assigned randomly to 44 infrabony defects. In a subgroup of 10 patients exhibiting 2 contra-lateral defects each OFD and GTR was assigned to either side (split-mouth). At baseline, 12, and 120 +/- 12 months after surgery clinical parameters were obtained.

Results: Fifteen patients (41 defects) were available at 120 months. Twelve and 120 +/- 12 months after therapy both groups showed statistically significant (p<0.01) attachment gain (split-mouth: OFD: 12 months: 3.60 +/- 2.67 mm; 120 months: 3.65 +/- 3.36 mm; GTR: 12 months: 3.50 +/- 1.90 mm; 120 months: 2.85 +/- 2.24 mm; parallel: OFD: 12 months: 3.47 +/- 2.80 mm; 120 months: 3.41 +/- 2.75 mm; GTR: 12 months: 3.67 +/- 2.11 mm; 120 months: 2.89 +/- 2.12 mm). From 12 to 120 months both groups experienced insignificant attachment changes, however, six teeth (two OFD, four GTR) were lost (all for prosthodontic reasons). The study failed to show statistically significant attachment gain differences between both groups after 120 months.

Conclusions: Ten years after OFD and GTR in infrabony defects 35 of 41 teeth were still in place.