Comparison of platelet pellet and bioactive glass in periodontal regenerative therapy

In recent years, platelet-rich plasma combined with graft materials has been used for periodontal regeneration. The individual role of blood products with guided tissue regeneration in periodontal regenerative therapy is unclear and needs to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological effectiveness of platelet pellet/guided tissue regeneration (PP/GTR) and bioactive glass/GTR (BG/GTR) treatments in patients with periodontal disease.

Using a split mouth design, 15 chronic periodontitis patients with pocket depths > or = 6 mm following periodontal initial therapy were randomly assigned to treatment with a combination of PP/GTR or BG/GTR in contralateral dentition areas. An absorbable membrane of polylactic acid was used GTR. The criteria for the comparative study were preoperative and postoperative 6 months pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and radiological alveolar bone level.

Both treatment modalities resulted in significant pocket depth reduction and gain in clinical attachment and alveolar bone level compared to the preoperative values (p < 0.01). Reduction in pocket depth, gain in clinical attachment and alveolar bone level were 4(3-6), 4.1+/-0.7, 4.9+/-1.4 mm in the PP/GTR group and 4(3-7), 4.1+/-1.2, 5.9+/-1.7 mm in the BG/GTR group, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Within the limits of this study, it was concluded that PP may be effective as a bioactive glass graft material and used as a graft material for treating intrabony defects. PP thus appears to be a suitable alternative in the regenerative treatment of intrabony periodontal defects.