Clinical evaluation of the use of calcium sulfate in regenerative periodontal surgery for the treatment of Class III furcation involvement.

The purpose of this study was clinical evaluation of the effectiveness of a composite graft, consisting of demineralized freeze-dried bone and doxycycline hyclate (4:1 by vol.) in combination with a resorbable calcium sulfate barrier in the treatment of Class III furcation involvement. A total of 24 sites in seven patients having adult periodontitis with at least two mandibular molars with class III furcation involvement were randomly allocated into two equal groups. The experimental sites received the composite graft in the furcation area covered by the barrier buccally and lingually. The control sites were treated by surgical debridement only. Baseline preoperative data, including probing depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession and radiographic bone level, were recorded. During surgery, direct linear and volumetric measurements of the defects were taken. At 12 months postoperatively, all sites were surgically re-entered and all measurements were again recorded. Student's t-test and analysis of variance of the data showed: (1) The experimental sites had a significant (P < .05) gain in clinical attachment while the control sites did not (1.44 + 0.33 mm vs. 0.11 + 0.35 mm); (2) the control sites showed greater (P < .05) gingival recession than the experimental sites (0.93 + 0.43 vs. 0.31 + 0.26); (3) when compared to control sites, the experimental group showed significantly (P < .05) greater vertical defect fill (2.24 + 0.79 mm vs. 0.45 + 0.82 mm) and volumetric fill (37.2% vs. 7.5%). In conclusion, the combined composite graft and resorbable barrier utilized in this study may have a favorable effect on the treatment outcome of mandibular class III furcations 12 months postoperatively when compared to surgical debridement only.