Long‐Term Results of Guided Tissue Regeneration Therapy With Non‐Resorbable and Bioabsorbable Barriers. III. Class II Furcations After 10 Years

Background: The aim of this 10‐year follow‐up was to evaluate the long‐term results after guided tissue regeneration (GTR) therapy of Class II furcation defects using non‐resorbable and bioabsorbable barriers clinically. Methods: In nine patients with advanced periodontitis, nine pairs of contralateral Class II furcation defects were treated. Within each patient, one defect received a non‐resorbable expanded polytetrafluoroethylene barrier (ePTFE; C) and the other a bioabsorbable (polyglactin 910; T) barrier by random assignment. At baseline and 12 and 120 ± 6 months after surgery, clinical parameters were obtained. Results: Twelve and 120 months after GTR therapy, statistically significant ( P <0.05) horizontal clinical attachment level (CAL‐H) gain was observed in both groups (C12: 1.9 ± 0.5 mm; C120: 1.1 ± 1.3 mm; T12: 1.9 ± 0.8 mm; T120: 1.7 ± 1.4 mm). However, one patient with furcations that had been assessed as Class I 12 months after GTR therapy had lost two teeth after 10 years, and another patient had lost more than 2 mm CAL‐H at one furcation from 12 to 120 ± 6 months post‐surgery 10 years after implantation of an ePTFE barrier. Horizontal bone sounding revealed similar bone gain in both groups 120 ± 6 months post‐surgery (C120: 0.8 ± 1.0 mm; T120: 1.1 ± 1.1 mm). Conclusions: CAL‐H gain achieved after GTR therapy in Class II furcations was stable after 10 years in 15 of 18 defects (83%). The study failed to show a statistically significant difference in stability of CAL‐H gain between group C and T 10 years after GTR therapy.