Guided Tissue Regeneration of Periodontal Infrabony Defects with Frozen Radiation-Sterilized Allogenic Bone Graft Versus Deproteinized Bovine Bone Mineral: 5-Year Outcomes of RCT

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) of periodontal infrabony defects using the frozen radiation-sterilized allogenic bone graft (FRSABG) versus deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) 5 years after treatment. The association between patients’ compliance and periodontitis recurrence with 5-year outcomes was also evaluated. Thirty infrabony defects in 15 stage III/IV periodontitis patients were randomly allocated to the FRSBAG group (tests) or the DBBM group (controls). Between 1 and 5 years, one patient was lost to follow-up and one tooth was extracted due to root fracture. No tooth was extracted for periodontal reasons. Consequently, 13 teeth in test sites and 14 teeth in control sites were available for the 5-year analysis. The clinical attachment level gain (CAL-G, primary outcome), probing pocket depth (PPD), radiographic defect depth (DD), and linear defect fill (LDF) were examined at baseline and 5 years post-surgically. Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in all evaluated clinical and radiographic parameters at 5 years, with insignificant intergroup differences. CAL-Gs were 4.46 ± 2.07 mm in the FRSBAG group, and 3.86 ± 1.88 mm in the DBBM group (p = 0.5442). In six (43%) patients, we observed periodontitis recurrence, among whom two (33.33%) participated regularly in supportive periodontal care (SPC) and the other four (66.7%) did not take part in SPC. A regression analysis revealed that periodontitis recurrence was a significant predictor of CAL loss and DD increase. FRSBAG and DBBM were both equally effective 5 years after the GTR of infrabony defects. Within the limitations of the present study, its outcomes advocate that both grafts may be considered as a viable option based on patient preferences and clinical considerations.