Effect of platelet-rich plasma on the healing of intra-bony defects treated with a natural bone mineral and a collagen membrane

Background: Regenerative periodontal therapy with a combination of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP)+a natural bone mineral (NBM)+guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has been shown to result in significantly higher probing depth reductions and clinical attachment‐level gains compared with treatment with open flap debridement alone. However, at present, it is unknown to what extent the use of PRP may additionally enhance the clinical outcome of the therapy compared with treatment with NBM+GTR. Aim: To clinically compare treatment of deep intra‐bony defects with NBM+PRP+GTR with NBM+GTR. Material and Methods: Thirty patients suffering from advanced periodontal disease, and each of whom displayed one advanced intra‐bony defect were randomly treated with a combination of either NBM+PRP+collagen membrane (GTR) or NBM+GTR. The following clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 1 year after treatment: plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD), gingival recession and clinical attachment level (CAL). CAL changes were used as the primary outcome variable. Results: No differences in any of the investigated parameters were observed at baseline between the two groups. Healing was uneventful in all patients. At 1 year after therapy, the sites treated with NBM+PRP+GTR showed a reduction in mean PD from 8.9±2.3 mm to 3.4±2.0 mm (p