Background: The aim of this 9-month reentry study was to compare the regenerative healing using porous (P) and non-porous (NP) teflon barrier membranes plus demineralized freeze dried bone allografts (DFDBA) in Class II buccal/lingual furcation defects.
Methods: Twenty-four patients, 13 males and 11 females, ages 38 to 75 (mean 54 +/- 10), were included in this study. Each patient had adult periodontitis and one Class II furcation defect measuring > or = 3 mm open horizontal probing depth. Twelve patients were randomly selected to receive the NP treatment and 12 received the P membrane. All defects received a DFDBA graft. Measurements were performed by a masked examiner.
Results: No statistically significant differences (P>0.05) were found between NP and P groups at any time with respect to any open or closed measure. Improvement in mean open horizontal probing depth was significant for both the NP (2.33 +/- 0.78 mm) and P (2.75 +/- 0.75 mm) groups. Mean clinical attachment level gains at 9 months were significant for both NP (1.50 +/- 1.62 mm) and P (2.50 +/- 2.11 mm) groups. Seventeen of 24 defects had an intrabony component and > or = 50% fill was obtained in 100% of these defects.
Conclusions: The results of this 9-month reentry study comparing the use of porous and non-porous barrier membranes with a DFDBA graft indicate that there were no statistically significant differences between groups. Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement following the treatment of Class II furcation defects in humans.