In an animal model study using female beagle dogs, researchers investigated the efficacy of the enamel matrix derivative (EMD) to regenerate cementum in vital and endodontically treated teeth with osseous dehiscence defects. The study involved 30 maxillary teeth (bilateral maxillary canines and second and fourth premolars) that were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups as follows: groups A and B, containing 12 teeth each, and one control group (group C). Endodontic treatment was only performed on teeth in group A, and buccal osseous dehiscence defects were surgically created in teeth from all groups. Teeth in the experimental group were treated with the EMD, whereas the controls were not. After 5 months, the animals were sacrificed and block sections of the teeth in experimental and control groups were processed for histological analysis. The researchers observed newly regenerated cementum in all teeth in groups A and B, and no cementum regeneration was observed in group C. There was a significant difference in cementum generation between the experimental and control groups (P < .001).
The study concludes that EMD therapy induces cementogenesis in vital and endodontically treated teeth with osseous dehiscence defects.
(Source: Al-Hezaimi K et al. Efficacy of the enamel matrix derivative to induce cementogenesis in vital and endodontically treated teeth with osseous dehiscence defects. Dental Traumatology. 2011, Volume 27, pages 350 to 355)
