Tetracycline-coated polytetrafluoroethylene barrier membranes in the treatment of intraosseous periodontal lesions

Aim of the study

The authors evaluated the clinical and microbiological effects of e-PTFE membranes coated with tetracycline, when used for the treatment of 2 or 3-walled intraosseous defects at mandibular molar sites.

Materials and methods

From a sample of 22 volunteer patients, 11 were randomly selected to receive e-PTFE membranes with postoperative antibiotic therapy for 8 days. The other 11 lesions were treated with tetracycline-coated e-PTFE membranes. All the commonly used clinical parameters were measured and subjected to statistical analysis. Microbiological samples were taken both for culture and for DNA probes before surgery, from the membranes after 3 minutes manipulation in the mouth and after 6 weeks, at the time of their removal.

Results

One year post-operatively, the mean gain of clinical attachment was 1,9 mm in the group with e-PTFE membranes and 3,3 mm for the test group, which is statistically significant. After 3 minutes manipulation in the mouth, pathogenic bacteria could be detected on several e-PTFE membranes but only on one tetracycline-coated membrane. After 6 weeks, all membranes were infected.

Conclusion

This study seems to show that the use of tetracycline-coated membranes enable an increased amount of clinical attachment to take place, probably due to the antimicrobial properties of tetracycline during the early phase of healing.

Commentary

The results obtained with these modified membranes are encouraging and similar to those obtained by Nowzari et al. in 1996 with classic e-PTFE membranes. However, in this study, no surgery was undertaken in other segments of the mouth which may have reduced the level of pathogens to a lower level and no systemic antibiotics were prescribed in the group receiving the coated membranes.