• Change in Probing Depth [ Time Frame: baseline and then at 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  This is the distance, measured in millimeters (mm) from the gingival margin to the maximal penetration of the probe tip. The measures were made at baseline and then at 6 months after treatment.
  
  
• Clinical Attachment Level [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The amount of space between attached periodontal tissues and a fixed point, usually the cementoenamel junction. A measurement used to assess the stability of attachment as part of a periodontal maintenance program.
  
  
• Recession [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  CEJ to gingival margin (GM). GM coronal to the CEJ were scored as a negative number.
  
  

• Gingival Index [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Scores:

  0 Normal gingiva

  1. Mild inflammation
  2. Moderate inflammation
  3. Severe inflammation Gingival units (buccal, lingual, mesiobuccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual, and distolingual) of each tooth were scored 0-3. Scores from the 6 areas of the tooth were added and divided by 6 to give the gingival index for the entire tooth.
  
  
• Plaque Index [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  0- No plaque

  1. A film of plaque adhering to gingival margin & adjacent area of tooth
  2. Moderate accumulation of soft deposits, visible with the naked eye
  3. Abundance of soft matter Each gingival region of the individual tooth will be scored 0-3 The scores from the 6 areas of the tooth are averaged to give the plaque index for the tooth.
  
  
• Bleeding on Probing [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  The variable measured the presence of bleeding when the osseus defect was probed. The presence and character of gingival bleeding will be determined by gently probing to the base of the pockets.

  0 - No bleeding.

  1 - Bleeding when probing.

  
  
• Mobility Index [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Tooth mobility was recorded using Miller's Index:

  1. — up to 1 mm of movement in a horizontal direction
  2. — greater than 1 mm of movement in a horizontal direction
  3. — excessive horizontal movement and vertical movement. Manual evaluation of mobility was carried out clinically using the handles of two instruments to move the teeth buccally and lingually and note their movement.
  
  

To compare the regenerative effects of a demineralized freeze dried bone allograft (DFDBA) particulate in a biologic thermoplastic carrier (Regenafil) to the standard of care. To compare the regenerative effects of a demineralized freeze dried bone allograft (DFDBA) particulate in the treatment of intraosseous vertical defects following six months of healing. This was accomplished by evaluating clinical parameters including probing depth, attachment level and bleeding upon probing, using attachment level as the primary outcome variable.

Treatment of the vertical osseous defect is a challenging problem in periodontics. There are many treatment options including:

1. open flap debridement;
2. osseous graft alone;
3. membrane alone;
4. or membrane plus an osseous graft.

Choice of treatment may depend on the defect depth and configuration. A shallow, narrow 3 wall defect may respond well to open flap debridement while a deep 2 wall defect may need regenerative therapy such as an osseous graft, a membrane or combined membrane and graft treatment. Studies of vertical defect therapy with defects about 4 mm or greater show that similar percent defect fill results are obtained with regenerative therapies. Open flap debridement produces substantially less percent defect fill.