January 2013

Objective: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) with enamel matrix derivative (EMD; Emdogain®) in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis, six months after surgery. Methods: Forty-four (44) intrabony defects in 30 patients (15 males) were randomly allocated into two treatment groups: EMD (n = 22) and PRF (n = 22). Measurement of the defects was done using clinical and cone beam computed tomography at baseline and 6 months. Clinical and radiographic parameters such as probing depth, clinical attachment level, intrabony defect depth and defect angle, were recorded at baseline and 6 months post-operatively. Within group change was evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Intergroup comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Postsurgical measurements revealed that there was an equal reduction in probing depth and a greater but statistically non-significant attachment gain for the Emdogain® group when compared to the platelet-rich fibrin group. The Emdogain® group presented with significantly greater percentage defect resolution (43.07% ± 12.21) than did the platelet-rich fibrin group (32.41% ± 14.61). Post-operatively the changes in defect width and defect angle were significant in both groups, but upon intergroup comparison they were found to be statistically non-significantly different. Conclusion: Both Emdogain® and platelet-rich fibrin were effective in the regeneration of intrabony defects. Emdogain® was significantly superior in terms of percentage defect resolution.