Treatment of dehiscence-type defects with collagen matrix and/or enamel matrix derivative: Histomorphometric study in minipigs.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate, histomorphometrically, the use of collagen matrix (CM) and/or enamel matrix derivative (EMD) for the treatment of dehiscence-type recession defects in minipigs. Eight healthy, male, young BR-1 minipigs, with no periodontal disease were treated. Bilateral dehiscence-type defects were surgically created on the buccal of the mandibular premolars (PI and PII). After 30 days, the defects were randomly assigned to four groups: coronally advanced flap (CAF); CAF + CM; CAF + EMD; and CAF + CM + EMD (split-mouth design). The evaluated parameters (mm): total defect length; new cementum (NC); new bone (NB); gingival margin position; total epithelium length; epithelium on the root; connective tissue adaptation; and soft tissue thickness (STT). The EMD-treated groups showed a superior length of NC [4.13±1.22 (CAF+ EMD); 3.95±1.11 (CAF + CM + EMD); 2.94±0.77 (CAF + CM); 2.72±0.81 (CAF), P=0.02] and NB [3.21±0.68 (CAF + CM + EMD); 3.01±0.56 (CAF + EMD); 2.15±0.47 (CAF + CM); 2.29±0.82 (CAF), P=0.005]. The CAF and CAF + CM groups showed a superior epithelial length when compared to EMD-treated groups after 3 months. A superior STT was observed for CAF + CM + EMD group (1.5±0.33) when compared with the other groups [1.09±0.26 (CAF + EMD); 1.04±0.34 (CAF + CM); and 1.14±0.29 (CAF), P=0.03]. The results of the present study indicate that EMD application, irrespective of the combination with CM, may improve the periodontal regeneration of dehiscence-type defects in this animal model.