A Veterans Administration Cooperative Study of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic in periodontal osseous defects

One hundred thirty-seven V.A. patients were randomized to one of three treatment groups to evaluate the efficacy of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic in the treatment of periodontal osseous defects. This material was tested against both autogenous bone implant and open flap curettage procedures. Baseline probing attachment level, Navy plaque index, and gingival index were recorded for all patients. These parameters were monitored for 3 years. At the end of this period, 101 patients had completed the study. Although the plaque and gingival indices steadily increased with time, there were no statistically significant differences among the treatment groups. Patients in the ceramic group had a gain in attachment level of 1.0 mm; those in the curettage group, 0.9 mm; and 0.4 mm for those in the bone implant group. Although the BCP patients had a greater gain, the difference was not statistically significant. In this veteran population, not only did BCP patients fail to outperform those in the control groups, all three treatment groups were similarly ineffective.