Preliminary clinical studies of bioceramic in periodontal osseous defects

In six patients, porous tricalcium phosphate ceramic (400 to 500 micrometer pore diameter and 50% pore volume) was used to repair naturally occurring periodontal osseous defects. These patients were evaluated clinically, radiographically and hematologically. The clinical evaluation indicated that there was no adverse inflammatory response at the implant site except the anticipated immediate postsurgical trauma. Radiographically, there was a significant increase in bone height with a mean gain of 5.2 mm. Whether or not this gain consisted of bone and/or ceramic is yet to be conclusively determined. The SMA-12 blood chemistry study revealed that no significant change occurred pre- or post-operatively (P less than 0.01). Although the number of patients in our study was limited, the results are very promising. The ceramic is nontoxic to human tissue and repair of the periodontium is most likely obtainable, the desired objective being the restoration of the natural state of the periodontium.