Radiographic outcomes following treatment of intrabony defect with guided tissue regeneration in aggressive periodontitis

Objectives This study reports the radiographic analysis of a split-mouth, single-blinded, randomised controlled clinical trial which was designed to compare the efficacy of simplified papilla preservation flap (SPPF) with or without guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP). Methods Eighteen AgP patients who had similar bilateral intrabony defects were treated. In all patients, the defects presented with radiographic evidence of an intrabony defect ≥3 and ≥5 mm of periodontal pocket depths (PPD). The surgical procedures included access for root instrumentation using SPPF alone (control) or, after debridement, a placement of resorbable GTR membrane (test). The standardised radiographic assessments were carried out at pre-surgical baseline and at 6 and 12 month post-surgery. Radiographic linear measurements and subtraction radiography were used as the method of analysis. Results Both treatments showed significant improvements in linear radiographic bone fill and defect resolution at 6 and 12 months, compared to baseline. The 12-month subtraction radiography at the GTR sites showed a significant improvement compared to the 6-month outcomes. Conclusions Both therapies were effective in the treatment of intrabony defects in AgP patients although no significant differences between them could be demonstrated. The finding that the bone fill and resolution of the defect at the GTR sites were significantly higher at 12 months than at 6 months after treatment indicates that bone regeneration is still an ongoing process at 6 months post-surgery. Clinical relevance Radiographic assessment of periodontal regeneration should be carried out at 12 months post-surgery in order to evaluate the complete healing of the bony defect.