Treatment of class II furcation defects using resorbable and non-resorbable GTR barriers

The present study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a resorbable matrix barrier (test) compared to a non-resorbable barrier (control) on the healing of periodontal tissues in class II furcation defects. Eleven patients, each with two class II furcation defects, underwent guided tissue regeneration surgery. Random selection was used to decide in which of the two sites in each patient test barrier and in which control barrier would be placed. Clinical measurements of the Plaque Index, the Bleeding Index, the Position of the Gingival Margin, as well as Vertical and Horizontal Probing Attachment Levels were made. Whether the barriers were exposed and adverse events were also recorded. It was demonstrated that both procedures led to clinical improvement at the furcation sites. Nine out of eleven defects treated with the test barrier showed improvement while 7 out of 11 achieved the same goal with control barrier. None of the improved sites, though, was completely closed. The conclusion was that within the limits of this study, resorbable test barrier can be used for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in class II furcation defects with at least as good results as those achieved with non-resorbable control barrier but with the additional benefit of only one operation.