Long-term clinical observation of treatment of infrabony defects with enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain): surgical reentry.

A surgical protocol for the placement of Emdogain during new attachment procedures was published in this journal in 1999. Three cases with infrabony defects were treated, and significant periodontal attachment level gain, probing depth reduction, and bone fill were evident upon clinical probing and reentry procedures after 1 year. The patients were enrolled in a maintenance protocol with 3-month recall visits. After 7 years, the clinical parameters were stable, as was the radiographic evaluation. Surgical reentry after 7 years in two cases and 5 years in one case demonstrated the stability of the previous findings. These data show the long-term efficacy of enamel matrix derivative in new attachment procedures.