Furcation Involvement

Abstract: The present clinical trial was designed to evaluate the regenerative potential of the periodontal tissues in degree II furcation defects at mandibular molars using a surgical treatment technique based on the principles of guided tissue regeneration. The patient sample included 21 subjects, 22-65 years of age. The patients selected had periodontal lesions in the right and left molar regions including advanced periodontal tissue destruction within the interradicular area. After an initial examination, each patient received a series of full-mouth scalings and root planings. 2-3 months later, they were recalled for a baseline examination including assessment of plaque, gingivitis, probing depths and probing attachment levels. The furcation involved molars were randomly assigned in each patient to either a test or a control treatment procedure. The test procedure included the elevation of mucoperiosteal flaps at the buccal and lingual aspect of the alveolar process. The inner surface of each flap was carefully curetted to remove epithelium and granulation tissue. The root surfaces were scaled and planed. A teflon membrane was adjusted to cover the entrance of the furcation area and the adjacent root surfaces as well as a portion of the alveolar bone apical to the crest. The flaps were repositioned and placed on the outer surface of the membrane and secured with interdental sutures which were removed after 10 days of healing. Following surgery, the patients were instructed to rinse the mouth twice daily with chlorhexidine gluconate. A second surgical procedure was performed after a healing period of 1-2 months to remove the teflon membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abstract: The present investigation was designed to evaluate the regenerative potential of the periodontal tissues in degree TIT furcation defects at mandibular molars using a treatment procedure based on the principle of guided tissue regeneration. The patient sample included 21 patients, 26–65 years of age, who presented periodontal lesions in the right and left molar regions including “through and through” furcation defects. After an initial examination, each patient was subjected to a series of full-mouth scaling and root planing. 2–3 months later, they were recalled for a baseline examination. The furcation-involved molars were randomly assigned in each patient to either a test or a control treatment procedure. The test procedure included the elevation of muco-periosteal flaps at the buccal and lingual aspects of the molars. Granulation tissue was removed and the exposed root surfaces were debrided and planed. The width and the height of the entrance openings to the furcation defects were assessed. A teflon membrane was adjusted to cover the entrances to the defects (buccal and lingual) and was retained in the manner described by Pontoriero et al. (1988). The flaps were repositioned on the outer surface of the membrane and secured by sutures which were removed after 10 days. Following surgery, the patients were instructed to rinse the mouth twice daily for 4 weeks with chlorhexidine gluconate. The membranes were removed after a healing period of 1–2 months. A surgical procedure identical to the test procedure was performed in the control tooth regions with the exception of the placement of membranes. During a 6-month period after surgery, the patients were maintained in a plaque control program including professional tooth cleaning every second week. At the end of this period, all patients were re-examined. The results of this re-examination demonstrated that out of 21 “through and through” furcation defects treated with the GTR therapy, 8 healed with complete closure of the defect. An additional 10 defects had become partially healed and only 3 defects were after a healing period of 6 months still open. In the control group, none of the previous “through and through” defects had healed with complete closure. 10 control defects were partially filled and 11 remained open. The potential for regeneration of periodontal tissues in furcation defects of varying dimensions is discussed.

Abstract: Consistently successful regenerative therapy for furcation defects using membrane techniques remains a challenge for clinicians. The purpose of this study was to determine if the thickness of tissue used to cover the membrane influences postsurgery recession. Thirty-seven (37) moderate to advanced adult periodontitis patients presenting with at least one mandibular or maxillary molar class 1 or 2 facial furcation involvement participated in the study. Mid-facial presurgery recession was recorded from the cemento-enamel junction to the free gingival margin at a reproducible point. Mid-facial tissue thickness was measured using calipers at a point 5 mm apical to the gingival margin of the mucogingival flap reflected at the time of guided tissue regeneration surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups based upon tissue thickness measurement. Patients were then re-evaluated for recession at 6 months postsurgery. Sixteen (16) patients with tissue thickness ≤ 1 mm demonstrated a mean 2.1 mm increase in recessi...

Abstract: he present clinical trial was designed to evaluate the clinical effect of GTR in the treatment of degree II furcation defects in maxillary molars. 28 patients, 21 to 59 years of age, referred for treatment of advanced periodontal disease were included. They presented with similar periodontal lesions in the right and the left maxillary molar regions, but had only one surface which exhibited furcation involvement. A total of 28 pairs of contralateral furcation defects of degree II including 18 interproximal pairs (10 mesial, 8 distal) and 10 buccal pairs, were available for the study. After the completion of basic therapy, the furcation involved molars in the right and left quadrants in each patient were randomly assigned to either a test or a control treatment procedure. Following flap elevation, scaling, root planing and granulation tissue removal, an e-PTFE membrane at the test site was adjusted to cover the entrance to the furcation defect and adjacent bone and was retained in this position with sling sutures. The mucoperiostal flaps were subsequently adjusted and positioned to cover the entire surface of the membrane and were secured in this position. An identical surgical procedure was performed in the control tooth regions with the exception of the placement of a teflon membrane. No periodontal dressing was used. Starting the day before surgery and continuing for 7 days, the patients received 1 + 1 g of Amoxicillin per day; morning and evening. The sutures were removed after 10 days. At the test sites, the membranes were removed after 6 weeks of healing. The treated sites were examined and re-entry procedures performed 6 months after reconstructive surgery. Open flap debridement at maxillary furcations of degree II resulted in some gingival recession and probing depth reduction, but no change occurred in parameters describing probing attachment or bone levels. The addition of GTR at buccal furcations enhanced the treatment result by promoting probing attachment and bone gain and reduced the amount of soft tissue recession above what was accomplished by flap debridement alone. No such benefit of membrane therapy was observed at mesial and distal furcations.