The Efficacy of Collagen Barrier Membranes in Regenerating Vertical Bone Defects: A Clinical and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Assessment

Context The underlying principle of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) lies in the use of barrier membranes. Their role is key to this method, as they inhibit the rapid growth of epithelial and connective tissue cells, thus isolating the infrabony defects (IBDs) and ensuring the regeneration of slower-growing periodontal structures. The main disadvantages of resorbable membranes are related to their limited time of action and the need to use them in two layers, which increases the chance of a postoperative complication, i.e., the dehiscence of the barrier membrane. In cases where barrier membranes are used alone, there is a risk of soft tissue "collapse" into the IBDs and disruption of the blood clot zone. This is why they are more commonly used in combination with bone repair material. However, when relatively smaller periodontal ​​​​​​IBDs are present, barrier membranes can be used alone. It is such IBDs that are included in the present study that are relatively narrow and not as deep. The technique of GTR, with the sole application of a resorbable collagen membrane, was used. Clinical and radiographic results were evaluated and analyzed at the earliest possible stage after the intervention, which was the sixth month. In this way, we demonstrated the remarkable regenerative capabilities at an extremely early stage of the increasingly neglected GTR technique with the sole application of a barrier membrane. Aim Investigation into the efficacy of GTR for vertical IBDs utilizing solely applied barrier membranes assessed six months post-surgery. Material and methods The research was carried out from August 2022 to July 2023 at the Medical University Varna, Varna, Bulgaria, specifically within the Faculty of Dental Medicine, utilizing the University Medical and Dental Center as its basis. The study encompasses 12 cases featuring two-wall, tri-wall, or a combination of the specified vertical IBDs. Following Ramfjord's treatment sequence, an up-to-date periodontal status was recorded at the re-evaluation stage after the hygiene phase, and a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examination was ordered in the areas with vertical IBDs. Three clinical (probing pocket depth, gingival margin level, and clinical attachment level) and three radiographic parameters (A, B, and C) were evaluated immediately before the future surgical intervention. Six months after the GTR with the sole application of a barrier collagen membrane, the same parameters studied at an earlier stage were recorded on all patients. Results The clinical outcomes observed at six months post-GTR utilizing a barrier membrane in vertical IBDs indicated an average reduction in probing depth of 4.17 mm, an average apical migration of the gingival margin of 0.33 mm, and an average gain of clinical attachment level of 3.83 mm. Bone filling is evident on the CBCT, corroborated by the following measurements: (A) an average reduction of 1.68 mm, (B) an average reduction of 0.50 mm, and (C) an average reduction of 0.11 mm. The study's impressive results are largely due to the relatively small number of cases included, requiring further improvement to confirm the method's effectiveness. Conclusions The study confirms the potential of the membrane technique, although the extent of the healing process is assessed at an extremely early stage. It can be safely concluded that it is not always necessary to place bone repair material under the barrier membrane to obtain good healing results.