Abstract
The aim of this retrospective case series was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of nanohydroxyapatite powder (NHA) in combination with polylactic acid/polyglycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) as a bone replacement graft in the surgical treatment of intrabony periodontal defects. Medical charts were screened following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Periodontal parameters and periapical radiographs taken before surgery and at 12-month follow-up were collected. Intra-group comparisons were performed using a two-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Twenty-five patients (13 males, 12 females, mean age 55.1 ± 10.5 years) were included in the final analysis. Mean probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) at baseline were 8.32 ± 1.41 mm and 9.96 ± 1.69 mm, respectively. Twelve months after surgery, mean PD was 4.04 ± 0.84 mm and CAL was 6.24 ± 1.71 mm. Both PD and CAL variations gave statistically significant results (p < 0.00001). The mean radiographic defect depth was 5.54 ± 1.55 mm and 1.48 ± 1.38 mm at baseline and at 12-month follow-up, respectively (p < 0.0001). This case series, with the limitations inherent in the study design, showed that the combination of NHA and PLGA, used as bone replacement graft in intrabony periodontal defects, may give significant improvements of periodontal parameters at 12-month follow-up.