Evaluation of durapatite ceramic as an alloplastic implant in periodontal osseous defects. I. Initial six-month results.

Eight patients received a new polycrystalline ceramic form of pure hydroxylapatite (Durapatite) as a bone implant material in various types of infrabony defects following internally beveled full thickness flaps, root planing, and defect debridement. All osseous margins and defects were measured from the CEJ using a standardized periodontal probe. Similarly debrided defects that were not implanted served as controls. Defect selection as either experimental or control site was based on either split-mouth or alternating defects design. Periodontal dressing and systemic tetracycline were used for 10 days. Results for documentation and plaque control were at 10, 20, and 30 days, and 3 and 6 months. Measurements relating to defect changes were made at the 6-months surgical re-entry. For evaluation purposes original defect depths were divided into three groups. In Group I (less than 3 mm) defect fill was 1.2 mm (60%) for the implanted defects and 0.6 mm (40.5%) for the control sites (significantly different at P less than 0.05). In Group II (3--6 mm) defect fill of 1.7 mm (48.5%) for implanted sites was significantly better than the 0.1 mm (11.1%) for the control sites. In the deepest group (Group III greater than or equal to 6 mm) Durapatite placement yielded 2.6 mm (39.9%) of defect fill while debridement alone resulted in 1.3 mm (14.8%) of fill. Hard tissue changes demonstrated a substantial advantage for use of Durapatite over controls, while soft tissue changes were similar for both. The clinical impression at re-entry and the numerical data indicate that pure hydroxylapatite ceramic has a definite potential as an alloplastic implant in the treatment of periodontal osseous defects.