New clinical materials and techniques in guided tissue regeneration

Aim: To review the evidence on using Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) techniques and materials in various clinical circumstances. Method: Literature review. Main outcome measures: The success of GTR techniques and materials in halting or reversing the destruction of tooth attachment apparatus caused by progressive periodontal disease. Results: GTR and osseous grafting are the two techniques with the most clinical and histological documentation of periodontal regeneration. Conclusions: GTR materials, whether non-resorbable or bioabsorbable, give similar clinical results. GTR procedures have been demonstrated to be clinically effective in treating infrabony osseous defects, recession defects, preserving alveolar bone in recent extraction sites and in some types of furcation defects. GTR procedures are technique sensitive and are adversely affected by poor home oral hygiene care, poor follow-up professional maintenance care and smoking.