Treatment of intrabony pockets with Emdogain: results at 36 months

This study reports the results obtained 36 months after treating deep periodontal defects with amelogenins. Results at 12 months have already been published. Sixteen of 21 patients completed the 3-year recall program. This study confirms after 3 years the results obtained at 1 year: Probing pocket depth decreased from 7.87 +/- 2.03 mm to 2.93 +/- 2.19 mm; recession increased from 2.20 +/- 1.42 mm to 2.93 +/- 1.87 mm; and attachment level decreased from 10.07 +/- 2.28 to 5.87 +/- 2.59 mm. No statistically significant difference was found between the data collected at 12 and 36 months. The standardized radiographs, digitized and analyzed with purpose-developed software, did not show any appreciable increase in bone volume, but only improved mineralization of the preexisting bone after 3 years using Emdogain without grafts.