[Effect of regenerative therapy for the furcation involvements of mandibular molars evaluated by cone-beam computed tomography].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of regenerative therapy for the treatment of furcation involvements of mandibular molars with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: In the study, 38 furcation involvements of mandibular molars were included and randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group accepted guided tissue regeneration and bone graft therapy, and the control group only flap surgery. The clinical examination and CBCT examination were performed at baseline and 1 year post-surgery.

Results: The clinical and CBCT data of both groups were not statistically different at baseline (P>0.05). At the end of 1 year post-surgery, except gingival recession, the clinical parameters of both groups were significantly improved (P<0.001). The vertical and horizontal attachment gains of the experimental group were (3.20 ± 1.82) mm and (2.05 ± 1.27) mm, respectively, and significantly higher than the changes of the control group (P<0.001). And at the end of 1 year post-surgery, the experimental group showed significantly higher bone gain at the vertical and horizontal directions compared with those of the control group: (2.82 ± 0.97) mm and (2.24 ± 0.92) mm, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusion: With the limitation of this study, the effect of guided tissue regeneration surgery and bone graft therapy for the treatment of furcation involvements of mandibular molars is significantly better than that of the flap surgery. CBCT can reflect the horizontal and vertical bone changes of furcation area, which is more comprehensive than traditional periapicals.