Efficacy of guided tissue regeneration in the management of through-and-through lesions following surgical endodontics : a preliminary study

The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the outcome of periradicular surgery with or without guided tissue regeneration (GTR) for the treatment of through and through lesions. Thirty-four teeth were included according to specific selection criteria. In the test group (using GTR) after root-end filling the defect was filled with anorganic bovine bone and covered with a resorbable collagen membrane. In the control group neither graft nor membrane was used. At one-year follow-up 31 teeth were evaluated. Of these, 22 teeth (71%) successfully healed, six (19%) had doubtful healing, and two were recorded as failure. The successful outcome of the defects treated with GTR (88%) was significantly better than that of control group (57%). The present study showed that the use of GTR associated with anorganic bovine bone in the treatment of through and through lesions may positively affect the healing process.