Some effects of enamel matrix protein on wound healing in the dento-gingival region

Aim of the study

To evaluate the effect of enamel matrix proteins on periodontal healing after instrumentation.

Materials and methods

This was an intra-individual, split mouth, double blind, randomised (placebo-control), longitudinal study over three weeks on 28 patients having moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis with at least three sites of 5 mm and bleeding on probing on each side of the mouth. Each site was instrumented and had EDTA applied. One of the sites was treated with Emdogain^®, the other served as the control. The results were subject to statistical analysis.

Conclusion

A significant improvement was observed in terms of gingival index, bleeding on probing and postoperative comfort at the end of one and/or two weeks. On the other hand, there was no difference in terms of depth of pocketing. In terms of pocket depth, one even observes a deterioration after 3 weeks.

Commentary

This was a purely clinical study over a very short period of time that was too short to allow healing. The advantages of the use of enamel matrix proteins, whose role is that of reattachment, was not demonstrated, on the contrary, it seemed to have an unfavourable effect on gain of attachment. The other clinical parameters had a tendency to converge by the third week.