Influence of defect dimensions on periodontal wound healing/regeneration in intrabony defects following implantation of a bovine bone biomaterial and provisions for guided tissue regeneration: an experimental study in the dog.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of defect dimensions on periodontal wound healing/regeneration in intrabony defects following implantation of a deproteinized bovine bone/collagen matrix under provisions for guided tissue regeneration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Contra-lateral one-wall intrabony [6 x 6 mm (wide/deep) versus 4 x 4 mm (narrow/shallow)] periodontal defects were surgically created at the edentulated mesial aspect of the mandibular first molars in three Labradors, i.e., three defects in each category. The defects were implanted with the bovine bone/collagen matrix and covered with a collagen membrane. Histologic/histometric analysis followed an 18-month healing interval.

RESULTS: New cementum encompassed the entire intrabony component in both wide/deep (5.6 +/- 0.5 mm) and narrow/shallow (4.2 +/- 0.1 mm) defects; bone formation amounted to 5.6 +/- 0.6 and 4.0 +/- 0.8 mm, respectively. Mineralized bone encompassed 57.5%versus 65% and the bone biomaterial 11.6%versus 13.1% of the defect space. A periodontal ligament with a width and composition similar to that of the resident periodontal ligament encompassing the entire aspect of the defects was observed. Root resorption/ankylosis was rare.

CONCLUSIONS: Both wide/deep and narrow/shallow intrabony defects showed a substantial potential for periodontal regeneration in this pre-clinical model. The contribution of the bovine bone/collagen matrix and guided tissue regeneration to this regenerative potential is not clear.