Bone density changes after 1 year in periodontal lesions treated surgically with or without ePTFE membrane placement

The present study was designed to quantitatively assess radiographic changes in alveolar bone density in intrabony defects treated with expanded polytetrafluorethylene membranes (ePTFE) or by conventional flap surgery alone. 15 patients with 2 periodontal defects of comparable morphology which could be depicted on a single radiograph made up the test panel. Standardized radiographs of the periodontal defects were taken immediately prior to surgery and 12 months later. The 2 defects were treated simultaneously using the modified Widman flap procedure and prepared for membrane placement. Then one of the lesions was randomly assigned for treatment with the membrane. All radiographs and surgical procedures were managed by one person. The radiographs were assessed by another person according to a blind design. Periodontal defects treated with ePTFE membranes (test), and sites treated by conventional flap procedures (control) were then analyzed using a computerized image analysis program. In 8 patients, the test site outcome was better than the outcome in the control site. 6 of the control sites indicated increased bone density, while 7 sites showed decreased values, and 2 sites were unchanged. The corresponding values from the test sites were 5, 6 and 4, respectively. In the present controlled clinical study, the use of an ePTFE membrane to cover the opening of a vertical bone defects during periodontal surgery did not predictably increase the bone density of the defects.