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Purpose: To evaluate, histometrically, the healing of gingival recessions treated by coronally positioned flaps associated with enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD-Group) and to compare it to that obtained with coronally positioned flaps alone (CPF-Group)., Methods: Five mongrel dogs were used. Gingival recessions were surgically created on the buccal aspect of the upper cuspids. The defects (5 x 7 mm) were exposed to plaque accumulation for 3 months. After a preparation period, the contralateral defects were randomly assigned to each group. After 3 months of healing, the dogs were sacrificed and the blocks were processed. The histometric parameters evaluated included: gingival recession, length of epithelium, new connective tissue attachment and new bone., Results: The gingival recession was -0.1 +/- 0.2 mm for the EMD-Group and -0.8 +/- 1.3 mm for the CPF-Group (P = 0.17). The extension of the epithelium was 1.2 +/- 1.0 mm for the EMD-Group and 1.3 +/- 0.7 mm for the CPF-Group (P = 0.89). The new connective tissue attachment was 4.8 +/- 0.7 in the EMD-Group and 4.0 +/- 1.4 in the CPF-Group (P = 0.22). The new bone was 0.1 +/- 1.8 mm and -0.5 +/- 1.4 mm in the EMD-Group and CPF-Group, respectively (P = 0.50). Histologically, the defect coverage observed was 98.2% for the EMD-Group and 85.8% for the CPF-Group.

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcomes after guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with a bioabsorbable membrane in Class II furcation defects in mandibular molars. The open flap debridement (OFD) was used as the control., Methods: Nine patients, with two comparable Class II furcation defects were included in the study. After initial preparation, the defects were randomly assigned in each patient to either GTR-group or OFD-group. Clinical parameters and standardized radiographs were obtained at baseline and 6 months after the surgeries. The radiographs were analyzed by subtraction radiography., Results: Comparing baseline to 6-month results, both groups showed statistically significant probing depth reduction (PD), horizontal clinical attachment level (CAL-h) gain, and increase in gingival recession (GR). The vertical clinical attachment level (CAL-v) gain was statistically significant only for the OFD-group. Comparing the two treatments, no statistically significant differences were found in PD reduction (GTR: 1.67 mm; OFD: 2.51 mm, P = 0.26), CAL-v gain (GTR: 0.62 mm; OFD: 1.16 mm, P= 0.37), and GR increase (GTR: 1.04 mm; OFD: 1.24 mm, P = 0.31). GTR provided complete closure of the furcation defect in two sites and superior horizontal clinical attachment level gain (GTR: 2.27 mm; OFD: 1.01 mm, P = 0.05). Subtraction radiography showed significant difference in bone height change between GTR-group and OFD-group (-0.14 mm and 0.86 mm, respectively; P = 0.028) at 6 months.