Local minocycline as an adjunct to surgical therapy in moderate to severe, chronic periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of minocycline microspheres on periodontal probing depth reduction when used in combination with surgery in adults with moderate to severe, chronic periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients with a minimum of one non-molar periodontal site > or =6 mm in two oral quadrants received either local minocycline microspheres at baseline, immediately following each of two surgical therapies (Weeks 2 and 3), and at Week 5 or surgery alone. RESULTS: The mean probing depth reduction at Week 25 at sites > or =5 mm at baseline was 2.51 mm in the test group and 2.18 mm in the control group. Smokers in the test group had a significantly greater probing depth reduction (2.30 mm) than smokers in the control group (2.05 mm). The number of sites with probing depth reductions of > or =2 and > or =3 mm were significantly higher in the test group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Applications of local minocycline as an adjunct to surgery in adults with moderate to severe, chronic periodontitis were associated with statistically significant greater reductions in probing depth than surgery alone.

Periodontal Regeneration - Furcation Defects: Practical Applications From the AAP Regeneration Workshop.

Focused Clinical Question: How should periodontal furcation defects be managed via periodontal regenerative therapy, and what parameters should be used for treatment selection? Summary: The treatment of furcation defects can vary based on the type and location of the furcation involvement. Attaining predictable regenerative outcomes is dependent on the control of local and systemic factors. A combined treatment approach (barrier and bone replacement graft with or without biologic) generally offers the better therapeutic outcome over monotherapy. Class I furcation defects can be managed via conventional periodontal non-surgical and/or surgical therapy, whereas Class II furcation defects generally attain better outcomes with regenerative therapy. There is weak evidence, limited to case reports, that Class III furcation defects can be treated successfully with regenerative therapy. Conclusions: In Class I furcation defects, regenerative therapy might be beneficial in certain clinical scenarios, although most Class I furcation defects can be treated successfully with non-regenerative therapy. For successful treatment of maxillary and mandibular molars with Class II furcation defects, systemic and local factors should be controlled, and surgical debridement and postoperative maintenance should be performed adequately. Although there is limited evidence for regeneration of Class III furcation defects, there may be a modest improvement allowing for tooth retention. Ultimately, the benefit of tooth retention and cost should be considered in the indication of therapy for teeth with severe furcation involvement.

Periodontal regeneration - furcation defects: a consensus report from the AAP Regeneration Workshop.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of furcation defects is a core component of periodontal therapy. The goal of this consensus report is to critically appraise the evidence and to subsequently present interpretive conclusions regarding the effectiveness of regenerative therapy for the treatment of furcation defects and recommendations for future research in this area. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted before the consensus meeting. This review aims to evaluate and present the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of different regenerative approaches for the treatment of furcation defects in specific clinical scenarios compared with conventional surgical therapy. During the meeting, the outcomes of the systematic review, as well as other pertinent sources of evidence, were discussed by a committee of nine members. The consensus group members submitted additional material for consideration by the group in advance and at the time of the meeting. The group agreed on a comprehensive summary of the evidence and also formulated recommendations for the treatment of furcation defects via regenerative therapies and the conduction of future studies. RESULTS: Histologic proof of periodontal regeneration after the application of a combined regenerative therapy for the treatment of maxillary facial, mesial, distal, and mandibular facial or lingual Class II furcation defects has been demonstrated in several studies. Evidence of histologic periodontal regeneration in mandibular Class III defects is limited to one case report. Favorable outcomes after regenerative therapy for maxillary Class III furcation defects are limited to clinical case reports. In Class I furcation defects, regenerative therapy may be beneficial in certain clinical scenarios, although generally Class I furcation defects may be treated predictably with non-regenerative therapies. There is a paucity of data regarding quantifiable patient-reported outcomes after surgical treatment of furcation defects. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available evidence, it was concluded that regenerative therapy is a viable option to achieve predictable outcomes for the treatment of furcation defects in certain clinical scenarios. Future research should test the efficacy of novel regenerative approaches that have the potential to enhance the effectiveness of therapy in clinical scenarios associated historically with less predictable outcomes. Additionally, future studies should place emphasis on histologic demonstration of periodontal regeneration in humans and also include validated patient-reported outcomes. CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Based on the prevailing evidence, the following clinical recommendations could be offered. 1) Periodontal regeneration has been established as a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of various furcation defects, among which Class II defects represent a highly predictable scenario. Hence, regenerative periodontal therapy should be considered before resective therapy or extraction; 2) The application of a combined therapeutic approach (i.e., barrier, bone replacement graft with or without biologics) appears to offer an advantage over monotherapeutic algorithms; 3) To achieve predictable regenerative outcomes in the treatment of furcation defects, adverse systemic and local factors should be evaluated and controlled when possible; 4) Stringent postoperative care and subsequent supportive periodontal therapy are essential to achieve sustainable long-term regenerative outcomes.

Factors influencing the outcome of regenerative therapy in mandibular Class II furcations: Part I.

BACKGROUND: Factors influencing the outcome of regenerative therapy of Class II furcations are incompletely and poorly understood. The purpose of this 24-month prospective study was to examine the relationship of patient-, site-, and treatment-related factors to the clinical closure of randomly selected mandibular Class II furcations. Results of therapy were evaluated at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. One-year outcome data are presented in this report. METHODS: A total of 43 otherwise healthy individuals with chronic periodontitis (26 male, 17 female), 36 to 70 years of age, completed the 12-month evaluation of the study. Entry criteria included clinical and radiographic evidence of two or more mandibular facial Class II furcation defects (> or = 3 mm horizontal probing depth). Surgical therapy was completed by four periodontists (two each) in either a university clinic or private practice. Each patient contributed two furcation defects that were treated by combination therapy using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane and demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA). Clinical measurements included a gingival index, plaque index, mobility, and, referencing an occlusal stent, probing depth (PD), probing attachment level-vertical (PAL-V), and probing attachment level-horizontal (PAL-H). Multiple linear measurements were recorded for each site clinically and after surgical debridement to characterize defect morphology, root configuration, and barrier placement. Defect volume was computed mathematically. Postsurgical maintenance care was provided at 1 to 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, and then biweekly until 3 months, with subsequent supportive periodontal maintenance visits at 3-month intervals. The clinical status of the furcation (open or closed), measured by a non-treating periodontist at 1 and 2 years, was the primary outcome measure. The association of patient-related factors (e.g., smoking), site-related factors (e.g., root configuration and defect morphology), and treatment-related factors (e.g., membrane exposure) to clinical status of furcations was assessed using random effects hierarchical logistic regression analysis, controlling for design and demographic variables. Non-parametric analysis was used for specific group comparisons. RESULTS: Complete clinical closure was achieved in 74% of all sites. Of the residual furcation defects, 68% were reduced to Class I. No defects progressed to Class III. Significant improvements in mean PD and PAL-V were obtained following surgical therapy. Although the proportion of sites demonstrating complete furcation closure was comparable for smokers and non-smokers, the proportion of Class II residual defects was significantly higher among smokers than non-smokers (62.5% versus 14.3%, respectively). Increases in presurgical PAL-H were associated with monotonic decreases in the percentage of sites demonstrating complete clinical closure, with only 53% of lesions > or = 5 mm responding with complete closure. Similarly, significant reductions in the frequency of clinical closure were associated with increases in the distance between the roof of furcation and crest of bone, roof of furcation and base of defect, depth of horizontal defect, and divergence of roots at the crest of bone. CONCLUSIONS: The successful clinical closure of Class II furcations was achievable at 1 year following combination therapy with an ePTFE membrane and DFDBA. The highest frequency of clinical furcation closure was observed in early Class II defects. Furcations with vertical or horizontal bone loss of 5 mm or greater responded with the lowest frequency of complete clinical closure. Nevertheless, complete furcation closure was achievable in 50% of molars with extensive bone loss. Also, 15 out of 22 (68%) of all residual defects were reduced to Class I and only seven (8%) failed to improve, demonstrating that successful clinical resolution of advanced defects remains an attainable goal.