Comparative Study of Collagen and Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Membranes in the Treatment of Human Class II Furcation Defects

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in clinical attachment when either a non-resorbable ePTFE membrane or an absorbable collagen membrane was used as a barrier during surgical treatment of class II molar furcation defects. Thirteen patients, mean age 43.2 years, with two comparable class II molar defects were treated using a split mouth design. Pre-surgical standardized probings were made using an automated probe at a constant force of 25 grams. Four to 6 weeks after initial therapy, the furcations were surgically debrided, the membranes placed to occlude separate furcation defects in each patient, and the sites closed. The ePTFE membrane was removed 6 weeks after placement. Six months postsurgery, the clinical measurements were repeated. Student t test was used to compare the results. There were no significant differences in the mean initial measurements between the treatment groups. The mean decrease in vertical probing depth was 1.40 +/- 1.68 mm for the collagen treated sites and 1.07 +/- 0.81 mm for the ePTFE treated sites. The decrease in horizontal probing depth was 1.49 +/- 1.97 mm for the collagen treated sites and 0.79 +/- 2.16 mm for the ePTFE treated sites. No significant differences were found between any of the clinical parameters measured. Based on the results of this short-term clinical study, the absorbable collagen membrane was statistically equivalent to the non-resorbable ePTFE membrane in the clinical resolution of class II furcation defects.