A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology compared the clinical efficacy of the entire papilla preservation technique (EPP) alone and in combination with enamel matrix proteins plus bovine-derived bone substitutes (EPP EMD + BS) in the treatment of isolated interdental intrabony defects. In this randomized trial, 30 patients with at least one isolated intrabony defect were assigned to EPP EMD + BS or EPP alone. Clinical outcomes were assessed 1-year post-surgery. The results showed that the early healing phase was uneventful in all cases and 100% primary wound closure was maintained throughout the study period. Intragroup differences between baseline and 1-year were statistically significant in both groups, in terms of clinical attachment level (CAL) gain and probing depth (PD) reduction. No statistically significant differences were detected in gingival recession (REC). In addition, no statistically significant differences were detected in terms of CAL gain, PD reduction or increase in gingival recession between the groups treated with EPP EMD + BS or EPP alone. Hence, the application of EPP with and without regenerative biomaterials resulted in significant amounts of CAL gain and PD reduction with negligible increase in gingival recession. It was inferred that the addition of regenerative biomaterials does not improve the clinical outcomes of EPP alone.

Source: Journal of Clinical Periodontology. 2020 Jan 10. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13255