Combined use of platelet-rich plasma and bone grafting with or without guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of anterior interproximal defects

Background: The aim of periodontal therapy is to prevent tissue destruction while achieving the regeneration of damaged tissues. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is used to generate new bone, periodontal ligament, and new attachment with a strategy based on the modulation and enhancement of wound healing through an autologous source for growth factors obtained from the patient's own blood. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRP when used in combination with P-tricalcium phosphate (P-TCP) alloplastic graft material and collagen barrier membrane in the treatment of anterior interproximal intrabony defects. Methods: Thirty interproximal intrabony defects in 25 systemically healthy patients were selected for the study. Defects were distributed randomly and equally into three groups: graft alone (beta-TCP), graft + PRP, and graft + PRP + membrane. The plaque index, gingival index, periodontal probing depth, relative attachment level, transgingival probing measurement, and radiographic analyses were performed at baseline and repeated after 6, 9, and 12 months. Results: At the end of 12 months, relative attachment gain was 2.4, 2.1, and 2.5 mm in the three treatment groups, respectively. No statistically significant differences in clinical and radiographic measurements were observed among the groups. Conclusions: All options were effective in the treatment of anterior interproximal intrabony defects. The results also suggested that PRP added no clinical benefit to P-TCP alloplastic graft material used alone or in combination with GTR.