Minimally Invasive Regenerative Treatment of Vertical Bone Defects: A Clinical Trial

Abstract The aim of the current study was to analyze and evaluate the outcomes of regenerative therapy using a bone graft and enamel matrix proteins, applied through a minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of vertical bone defects. Materials and methods Ten systemically healthy patients with a total of 30 vertical bone defects were treated using a minimally invasive surgical approach combining enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain) with a bone graft. Probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic defect depth were analyzed before and at the 6-month postoperative follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and the paired Student’s t-test (p < 0.05). Results At the 6-month follow-up, a statistically significant reduction in probing pocket depth (mean reduction: 4.00 ± 1.44 mm; p < 0.0001) and a significant gain in clinical attachment level (mean gain: 4.62 ± 2.13 mm; p < 0.0001) were recorded. Radiographic evaluation also revealed a statistically significant reduction in bone defect depth (mean change: 2.95 ± 1.34 mm; p = 0.0027), with a residual mean depth of 0.57 ± 0.73 mm. Conclusion The minimally invasive approach using enamel matrix derivatives (EMD) in combination with bone grafting proved effective in the treatment of vertical bone defects. The favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes suggest periodontal stability and support the long-term preservation of the treated teeth.