A comparative study of the clinical effects of chitosan nanofiber membrane in the treatment of mandibular class II furcation defects

Choi, Han Sun; Jeong, Lim; Kim, Jeong Bin; Hong, Ki Seok; Lim, Sung Bin; Chung, Chin Hyung

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration(GTR) technique using chitosan nanofiber membrane and to compare it to the clinical efficacy following GTR using PLA/PLGA(copolymer of polylactic acid and polylacticglycolic acid) membrane in mandibular class II furcation defects in human. The chitosan nanofiber membranes were applied to the mandibular class II furcation defects of 13 patients(test group) and PLA/PLGA membranes were applied to those of 11 patients(control group). Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession, plaque index and gingival index were measured at baseline and 3 months postoperatively. Vertical and horizontal furcation defect depth were measured at surgery. Both groups were statistically analyzed by Wilcoxon signed Ranks Test and Mann-Whitney Test using SPSS program. The results were as follows: 1. Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and gingival index were significantly reduced at 3 months postoperatively compared to values of baseline in both groups(p<0.05). 2. Gingival recession and plaque index were not significantly decreased at 3 months postoperatively compared to values of baseline in both groups. 3. No significant difference between two groups could be detected with regard to changes of probing pocket depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, plaque index and gingival index at 3 months postoperatively. In conclusion, chitosan nanofiber membrane is effective in the treatment of human mandibular class II furcation defects and a longer period study is needed to fully evaluate the outcomes.