REZUMAT

Scopul terapiei parodontale regenerative este reconstituirea structurilor parodontale pierdute (de exemplu neoformarea de cement radicular, ligament parodontal si os alveolar). Rezultatele cercetarii fundamentale au aratat rolul important al derivatilor proteinelor matricii smaltului (EMD) în vindecarea plagii parodontale. Rezultatele histologice ale studiilor pe subiecti animali si umani au aratat ca tratamentul cu EMD promoveaza regenerarea parodontala. Mai mult, studiile clinice au indicat faptul ca tratamentul cu EMD influenteaza pozitiv vindecarea timpurie a plagii parodontale la om. Scopul trecerii in revista de fata este de a prezenta, bazat pe dovezile existente, indicatiile clinice pentru terapia regenerativa cu EMD.
Cuvinte cheie: proteinele matricii amelare, vindecarea plagii, complict?ii postoperatorii

ABSTRACT

The goal of regenerative periodontal therapy is the reconstitution of the lost periodontal structures (i.e. the new formation of root cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone). Results from basic research have pointed to the important role of the enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD) in the periodontal wound healing. Histological results from animal and human studies have shown that treatment with EMD promotes periodontal regeneration. Moreover, clinical studies have indicated that treatment with EMD positively influences periodontal wound healing in humans. The goal of the current overview is to present, based on the existing evidence, the clinical indications for regenerative therapy with EMD.
Key Words: enamel matrix proteins, wound healing, postoperative complications

INTRODUCTION

Results from basic research and histological results from animal and human studies which pointed to the important role of the enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD) in the periodontal wound healing and promotion of periodontal regeneration have been mentioned in the previous three parts of this paper.^1-3 Given the increasing importance of the patient's acceptance of various current surgical procedures in periodontology, which is essentially related to the process of wound healing (swelling, tenderness, oedema, pain, suppuration, alergical reactions, maintenance of the primary wound closure etc.), the aspects associated with the wound healing are mentioned in almost all controlled clinical studies reports.
Primary wound closure maintained over time is especially important, as EMD, alone or in various combinations with bone grafts and/or membranes, has to be retained within the defect in order to become effective.
Several studies have attempted to evaluate the effect of EMD treatment on early wound healing.^4,5 In a double-masked, split-mouth, placebo-controlled, randomized study 28 patients with moderately advanced chronic periodontitis were scaled and root planed, and the soft tissue wall of the pocket was curetted to remove pocket epithelium and adjacent granulation tissue.⁴ All experimental sites were carefully irrigated with saline. When the bleeding from the pocket had ceased, a 24% EDTA gel was applied in the sites and retained for 2 min. The sites were then thoroughly irrigated with saline to remove EDTA remnants. Subsequently, left and right quadrants were randomized to subgingival application of EMD (test) or vehicle (control). All sites were re-examined clinically after 1, 2 and 3 weeks. In addition, a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to score the degree of post-treatment discomfort. The results indicated that EMD topically applied in instrumented sulci enhance the early healing of periodontal soft tissue wounds. Furthermore, at 1 week, the proportion of patients reporting a VAS score ≤ 20 was significantly higher for the EMD treated quadrants than for controls.
Another study has evaluated by clinical means and as patient perception of post-operative events, the effect of EMD on the healing of soft-tissue wounds following periodontal surgery.⁵ Patients scheduled for periodontal flap surgery were treated with either modified Widman flap and application of EMD (test) or with modified Widman flap alone (control). Clinical measurements were taken at four different points in time, at surgery, 1, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. The results revealed that of all parameters evaluated, none showed a significant difference between the control and EMD groups, except for gingival swelling at the one-week assessment where the EMD group exhibited a higher swelling score. It was concluded that the early wound healing of periodontal flap-surgeries in those sites treated with EMD is not different from control sites.
More recently, a series of studies were undertaken to describe a new surgical approach (minimally invasive surgical technique MIST, modified minimally invasive surgical technique M-MIST, respectively) and to evaluate preliminarily its clinical results (among them, the early wound healing) and the patient perception associated with the application of EMD in the treatment of either isolated or adjacent intrabony defects.^6-9 In a study from 2007, thirteen deep isolated intrabony defects in 13 patients were surgically accessed with the MIST.⁶ The technique was designed to limit the mesio-distal flap extension and the corono-apical reflection in order to reduce the surgical trauma and increase flap stability. EMD was applied on the debrided root surfaces and stable primary closure of the flaps was obtained with internal modified mattress sutures, while surgery was performed with the aid of an operating microscope and microsurgical instruments. Beside clinical outcomes, the intraoperative and postoperative perception of the patient was recorded. The early wound healing was uneventful, primary wound closure was obtained and maintained in all sites with the exception of one site with a small wound dehiscence after one week. Patients did not report any pain, only three patients experienced a slight discomfort for two days post-operatively. The results indicated that MIST associated with EMD resulted in excellent clinical improvements while limiting patient morbidity.
In a similar study on forty deep isolated intrabony defects in 40 patients, primary closure was obtained in all treated sites and at 1-week follow-up visit, 95% of the sites were still closed. Only 12 subjects reported moderate post-operative pain (VAS 19 ± 10) that lasted for 26 ± 17 hours.⁷ The results indicated the very limited post-operative morbidity of the technique associated with EMD. Same results were obtained by the same authors when using the same technique (MIST associated with EMD) on multiple adjacent intrabony defects, or when using a modified MIST (M-MIST) for defects without a lingual intrabony component.^8,9
It is interesting to note that the wound healing of the injured pulp tissue, known as highly sensitive and with reduced healing capacities, was also studied in association with EMD. After animal-studies in rats demonstrating that different healing processes of the injured pulp existed for EMD and Calcium-hidroxyde preparations, and bone morphogenic proteins (BMP) – expressing macrophages might play important roles in reparative dentin formation, two clinical controlled studies compared and histologically evaluated EMD versus formocresol as pulpotomy agents in the primary dentition.^10-12 These studies offered preliminary evidence that EMD is a promising material which may be used in pulpotomy procedures, especially in the primary dentition.
Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) is known to have complications due to postoperative infections, membrane exposure and delayed wound healing. Direct comparisons between GTR and EMD in treatment of intrabony defects showed that EMD leads to significantly less complications and patient morbidity.^13-16 In some studies, the results of EMD treatment are at least the same, or even better than the results of GTR.^13,17-20 In one study, the additional use of a membrane in regenerative therapy with EMD does not improve the result, but can even amplify the postoperative complications.²1
Based on the available data, EMD appear to have a beneficial effect on the early wound healing, both on periodontal and on pulpal wounds. However, at the current time it appears that no definitive conclusions can be drawn to what extent the additional application of EMD may additionally enhance early wound healing following conventional periodontal therapy.

REFERENCES

1. Stratul SI, Sculean A. The use of an enamel matrix protein derivative (Emdogain®) in regenerative periodontal therapy. Which applications are evidence-based? In-vitro studies. TMJ 2006;56(4):252-8.
2. Stratul SI, Sculean A. The use of an enamel matrix protein derivative (Emdogain®) in regenerative periodontal therapy. Which applications are evidence-based? Part II: controlled histological studies in animals. TMJ 2007;57(3):158-61.
3. Stratul SI, Sculean A. The use of an enamel matrix protein derivative (Emdogain®) in regenerative periodontal therapy. Which applications are evidence-based? Part III: results from human histological studies. Timisoara Medical Journal 2008;58(1-2):108-10.
4. Wennström JL, Lindhe J. Some effects of enamel matrix proteins on wound healing in the dento-gingival region. J Clin Periodontol 2002;29:9-14.
5. Hagenaars S, Louwerse PH, Timmerman MF, et al. Soft-tissue wound healing following periodontal surgery and Emdogain application. J Clin Periodontol 2004;31:850-6.
6. Cortellini P, Tonetti MS. A minimally invasive surgical technique with an enamel matrix derivative in the regenerative treatment of intra-bony defects: a novel approach to limit morbidity. J Clin Periodontol 2007;34(1):87-93.
7.Cortellini P, Tonetti MS. Minimally invasive surgical technique and enamel matrix derivative in intra-bony defects. I: Clinical outcomes and morbidity. J Clin Periodontol 2007;34(12):1082-8.
8. Cortellini P, Nieri M, Prato GP, et al. Single minimally invasive surgical technique with an enamel matrix derivative to treat multiple adjacent intra-bony defects: clinical outcomes and patient morbidity. J Clin Periodontol 2008;35(7):605-13.
9. Cortellini P, Tonetti MS. Improved wound stability with a modified minimally invasive surgical technique in the regenerative reatment of isolated interdental intrabony defects. J Clin Periodontol 2009;36(2):157-63.
10. Kaida H, Hamachi T, Anan H, et al. Wound healing process of injured pulp tissues with emdogain gel. J Endod 2008;34(1):26-30.
11. Sabbarini J, Mohamed A, Wahba N, et al. Comparison of enamel matrix derivative versus formocresol as pulpotomy agents in the primary dentition. J Endod 2008;34(3):284-7.
12. Sabbarini J, Mounir M, Dean J. Histological evaluation of enamel matrix derivative as pulpotomy agent in primary teeth. Pediatr Dent 2007;29(6):475-9.
13. Sculean A, Schwarz F, Miliauskaite A, et al. Treatment of intrabony defects with an enamel matrix protein derivative or bioabsorbable membrane: an 8-year follow-up split-mouth study. J Periodontol 2006;77(11):1879-86.
14. Sanz M, Tonetti MS, Zabalegui I, et al. Treatment of intrabony defects with enamel matrix proteins or barrier membranes: results from a multicenter practice-based clinical trial. J Periodontol. 2004;75(5):726-33.
15. Zucchelli G, Bernardi F, Montebugnoli L, et al. Enamel matrix proteins and guided tissue regeneration with titanium-reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes in the treatment of infrabony defects: a comparative controlled clinical trial. J Periodontol 2002;73(1):3-12.
16. Jepsen S, Heinz B, Jepsen K, et al. A randomized clinical trial comparing enamel matrix derivative and membrane treatment of buccal Class II furcation involvement in mandibular molars. Part I: Study design and results for primary outcomes. J Periodontol 2004;75(8):1150-60.
17. Minabe M, Kodama T, Kogou T, et al. A comparative study of combined treatment with a collagen membrane and enamel matrix proteins for the regeneration of intraosseous defects. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2002;22(6):595-605.
18. Silvestri M, Ricci G, Rasperini G, et al. Comparison of treatments of infrabony defects with enamel matrix derivative, guided tissue regeneration with a nonresorbable membrane and Widman modified flap. A pilot study. J Clin Periodontol 2000;27(8):603-10.
19. Donos N, Sculean A, Glavind L, et al. Wound healing of degree III furcation involvements following guided tissue regeneration and/or Emdogain. A histologic study. J Clin Periodontol 2003;30(12):1061-8.
20. Venezia E, Goldstein M, Boyan BD, et al. The use of enamel matrix derivative in the treatment of periodontal defects: a literature review and meta-analysis. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 2004;15(6):382-402.
21. Sipos PM, Loos BG, Abbas F, et al. The combined use of enamel matrix proteins and a tetracycline-coated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene barrier membrane in the treatment of intra-osseous defects. J Clin Periodont 2005;32(7):765-72.