Healing after treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects. IV. Effect of a non-resective versus a partially resective approach.

2 regenerative surgical approaches using citric acid conditioning, were compared in the treatment of deep intraosseous periodontal defects. The first approach was non-resective in that no osseous tissue was removed. The second, a partially resective approach, involved reduction of the osseous defect depth by removal of some supporting bone. 16 patients and a total of 26 defects, with probing pocket depth greater than or equal to 7 mm, were included in the study. The depths of the corresponding osseous defect, as revealed during surgery were greater than or equal to 5 mm. The results demonstrated mean gains in probing attachment level of 0.7 mm for the partially resected group and 1.1 mm for the non-resected group. Corresponding gains in probing bone levels were recorded in the defect sites for each group. Probing pocket depth was reduced from 7.5 mm to 4.0 mm in the partially resected group and from 7.9 mm to 5.3 mm in the non-resected group. Both procedures caused loss of attachment and bony support from adjacent tooth surfaces involved by the surgical procedure. Slightly more loss of attachment and bone was experienced by the partially resected group (range 1.2-1.5 mm) than by the non-resective group (range 0.1-0.9 mm).