A comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of guided tissue regeneration by using a collagen membrane with or without decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft in the treatment of infrabony defects: A clinical and radiographic study

BACKGROUND: The present, randomized, controlled clinical and radiographic study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) by using a collagen membrane barrier with or without decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) in the treatment of periodontal infrabony defects characterized by unfavorable architecture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen systemically healthy patients with 20 periodontal infrabony defects were selected for the study. Each patient had at least ≥ 5 mm clinical probing pocket depth (PPD) at the selected site and depth of intrabony component ≥ 3 mm as assessed by clinical and radiographic measurements. Baseline measurements included plaque index, papillary bleeding index, PPD, gingival recession, clinical attachment level and radiographic defect depth (DD). At the time of surgery, the defects were randomly assigned to either the test group (collagen membrane plus DFDBA) or the control group (collagen membrane only). RESULTS: At the 6-month examination, PPPD reduction was significantly greater in the GTR + DFDBA group (4.06 ± 0.38 mm) compared with the GTR group (3.2 ± 0.74 mm). The mean gains of clinical attachment were 3.54 ± 0.36 mm in the test group and 2.50 ± 0.74 mm in the control group. Radiographic DD reduction was similarly greater in the GTR + DFDBA group (2.40 ± 0.51 mm) compared with the GTR group (1.60 ± 0.51 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that the use of a GTR membrane with bone graft has significantly improved all clinical parameters tested as compared with the use of bioresorbable membrane alone in the treatment of infrabony defects characterized by unfavorable architecture.