Influence of autogenous platelet concentrate on combined GTR/graft therapy in intrabony defects: a 7-year follow-up of a randomized prospective clinical split-mouth study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of autogenous platelet concentrate (APC) on the long-term regeneration outcome 7 years after guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in deep intrabony periodontal defects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 25 patients, two deep contra-lateral intrabony defects were treated according to GTR (randomized split-mouth-design). In the test defects, APC was additionally applied. After 7 years, healing results were assessed clinically by a blinded examiner and compared to baseline and 12-months results. Furthermore, a tooth survival analysis was performed.

RESULTS: After 7 years, 23 patients were available for survival analysis and 16 patients for split-mouth analysis; 84% of the test and control teeth were still in situ. In both groups, the median attachment level of 10.5 mm [(25/75%): test 9.0/13.0, control 10.0/12.0] at baseline was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced to 6.0 mm [test 4.0/6.8, control 5.0/7.0] after 1 year. Six years later, it had increased again to 7.0 mm in test sites [5.3/10.0] (p ≤ 0.05) and had remained stable in control sites [5.0/7.8] (p > 0.05). Bleeding on Probing (BOP) had increased in both groups. During the last 6 years, only 26% of the patients received a structured supportive periodontal therapy in the clinic.

CONCLUSION: Within its limitations, the present study indicates that the clinical outcome of GTR therapy can be maintained over 7 years. However, the additional use of APC may even have a possibly negative influence on the long-term stability.