Clinical evaluation of a composite bone graft with a calcium sulfate barrier.

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a composite bone graft (demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft, calcium sulfate, tetracycline, and porous hydroxyapatite) and calcium sulfate barrier to treat non-furcation osseous defects.

METHODS

One hundred patients were treated with the technique. The preoperative measurements were compared to the postoperative measurements (mean 5.2 months) to determine whether the technique had a statistically significant effect. Various factors were evaluated to determine whether they could be related to improved or diminished results.

RESULTS

The surgical procedure produced a statistically significant change in the clinical measurements. The mean recession increased from 0.8 to 1.8 mm; the mean probing depth decreased from 8.5 to 3.8 mm; and the attachment level improved from 9.3 to 5.5 mm. Non-smokers, defects in the mandibular arch, defects with deeper probing depths, or defects with greater attachment loss had statistically significant changes in one or more of the clinical parameters evaluated.

CONCLUSION

The technique examined in this study (composite bone graft + calcium sulfate barrier) was an effective method to improve the clinical measurements.