Guided tissue regeneration, bone graft procedures, and application of growth factors have been used to regenerate lost periodontal tissues. Recently, enamel matrix derivative has been introduced into periodontal regeneration procedures in expectation of promoting new bone and cementum formation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of enamel matrix derivative in 1-wall intrabony defects in beagle dogs. For this purpose, each dog was anesthesized using intravenous anesthesia and mandibular 1st, 3rd premolars were extracted. 2 months later, the 1-wall intrabony defects(mesio-distal width; 4mm, depth; 4mm) were created on the distal side of 2nd premolars and mesial side of 4th premolars. The control group was treated with debridement alone,and experimental group was treated with debridement and enamel matrix derivative application. The healing processes were histologically and histometrically observed after 8 weeks and the results were as follows :

The length of junctional epithelium was 0.94±0.80mm in the control group, 0.57±0.42mm in the experimental group, with no statistically significant difference between groups.

The connective tissue attachment was 1.36±0.98mm in the control group, 0.38±0.43mm in the experimental group, with statistically significant difference between groups(P<0.05).

The new cementum formation was 2.49±1.06mm in the control group, 3.59±0.74mm in the experimental group, with statistically significant difference between groups(P<0.05).

The new bone formation was 1.92±0.97mm in the control group, 2.32±0.59mm in the experimental group, with no statistically significant difference between groups.

Within the limitation to this study protocol, enamel matrix derivative application in 1-wall intrabony defect enhanced new cementum formation. Although there was no statistically significant difference, enamel matrix derivative also seems to be effective in inhibition of apical migration of junctional epithelium and new bone formation.