Freeze-dried bone allografts (FDBAs) were evaluated alone and in combination with various types of autogenous bone in the treatment of periodontal osseous defects. A total of 381 defects were evaluated by surgical reentry approximately 1 year after grafting. Reentry data were compared with similar data obtained when the grafts were placed. Osseous regeneration and pocket reduction were rated as complete, greater than 50%, less than 50%, or failed. Complete or greater than 50% regeneration was considered successful. When compared with FDBAs, composite freeze-dried bone allografts/autogenous bone grafts (FDBA/ABGs) appear to offer significantly improved results in both osseous regeneration and pocket reduction. Use of composite FDBA/ABGs resulted in significant improvement in the treatment of combination one/two-wall defects and furcation involvements. A trend of improvement was seen with two-wall defects. The surgical data indicated that complete wound closure and the use of antibiotics enhanced graft success. The results also indicated that the presence of endodontically obturated teeth may be a consideration in the success or failure of the graft.

Freeze-dried crushed cortical bone allografts were implanted into widemouthed three-wall, two-wall, one-wall, combination, and furcation defects. One hundred eighty-nine sites were reentered in 97 patients and of these 60% had osseous regeneration of greater than 50%. A total of 231 sites were evaluated for pocket elimination, of which 63% demonstrated greater than 50% pocket reduction. This study presented additional evidence indicating that freeze-dried bone allografts have definite potential as grafting material in certain periodontal osseous defects. Information from additional cases is being tabulated as it becomes available and will supplement the current data.

Sixteen patients diagnosed as having juvenile periodontitis were randomly placed into one of two treatment groups. Group I received local and systemic tetracycline (TTC), while Group II received no antibiotics. Osseous defects were grafted with allogeneic freeze-dried bone (FDBA) mixed with TTC powder (Group Ia) or FDBA alone (Group IIa). Contralateral defects were debrided only in both Groups (Ib and IIb). Direct reentry evaluation of 104 measurement sites demonstrated significantly greater bone fill (mean = 2.8 mm) and resolution of osseous defects (mean = 72.7%) in the TTC/FDBA-treated group (Ia) as compared to the TTC plus debridement only (Ib) or no TTC-treated groups (IIa and IIb). The results of this study indicate that of the modes of treatment investigated, the combination of local and systemic tetracycline coupled with freeze-dried bone allografts was the treatment of choice for defects associated with juvenile periodontitis.

Ten patients with bilateral, posterior osseous defects associated with localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) completed the study. Following the initial therapy, osseous defects were surgically debrided and grafted with a 4:1 volume ratio combination of either Synthograft/tetracycline (b-TCP/TTC), Periograf/tetracycline (HA/TTC) or freeze-dried bone allograft/tetracycline (FDBA/TTC). Graft materials were selected randomly for each half mouth following defect debridement, with a different material used on the opposite side for that patient. Immediately following each surgery, patients were placed on doxycycline 100 mg/day for 10 days. Direct re-entry evaluation of 51 osseous defects demonstrated no significant differences among the graft materials regarding hard tissue or soft tissue changes, except for greater percent defect fill for HA/TTC compared to b-TCP/TTC. Significant decreases in defect depth and pocket depth were achieved with each graft material. No adverse reactions to the use of any of the graft materials in combination with local and systemic tetracycline were found. The results indicate all three graft materials used in conjunction with TTC are acceptable and beneficial for the treatment and repair of osseous defects associated with localized juvenile periodontitis.