2012 Volume 55 Issue 1 Pages 22-29
A growing amount of evidence indicates that enamel matrix protein is effective for periodontal regeneration therapy. Tokyo Medical and Dental University Dental Hospital were given permission to administer advanced dental technology with EMDOGAIN® gel in periodontal regeneration therapy by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan in October 2007. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the periodontal regeneration therapy using EMDOGAIN® gel (EMD) administered as an advanced dental technology. Thirty sites of 22 patients were employed in this study. Clinical examinations were performed before and one year after surgery. Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic bone defect depth were measured. The mean PPD, CAL and radiographic bone defect depth before surgery were 6.1±1.4 mm, 7.1±1.8 mm and 5.6±2.7 mm, respectively. Mean PPD and CAL after one year were significantly improved to 3.1±0.8 mm and 4.8±2.1 mm. Twenty-six of the 30 sites showed gains of CAL, and the mean clinical attachment gain was 2.3±2.3 mm. The mean radiographic bone defect depth decreased to 3.1±1.8 mm. The results of the present study were consistent with those of previous reports on clinical and radiographic periodontal tissue regeneration. EMD has several technical advantages compared with GTR, which is covered by dental health insurance, and its procedure is more simple. Additionally, it can be used for multiple bone defects at the same time. In conclusion, promoting the advanced dental technology using EMDOGAIN® gel may provide adequate clinical outcomes for periodontally-involved patients while reducing the cost of treatment.
