Clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration combined with orthodontic treatment on periodontitis

Background: Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disorder caused by bacterial plaque. Our study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration with orthodontic treatment (GTRO) in patients with periodontitis. Methods: Propensity score matching was performed based on gender, age, periodontitis duration, dental malformation, sulcus bleeding index, and gingival index. Clinical efficacy, gingival index (GI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and depth of bone defect were assessed 6 months post-treatment. The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), IL-1β, and IL-18 levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were determined using ELISA. Results: A total of 131 patients were included in the final analysis, including 64 in the GTR group and 67 in the GTRO group. The GTRO group demonstrated better outcomes, including higher recovery and total efficacy rates. Post-treatment, the GTRO group exhibited greater improvements in GI and SBI, PD, CAL, and depth of bone defect than the GTR group. Levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 in GCF significantly decreased in both groups, with more pronounced reductions observed in the GTRO group. Conclusion: GTRO improved clinical and anti-inflammatory outcomes and was associated with better periodontal health and bone defect repair than GTR alone at 6 months.