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7033524 
Journal Article 
Regenerative therapy: furcation defects 
Karring, T; Cortellini, P; , 
1999 
1 
Periodontology 2000
ISSN: 0906-6713
EISSN: 1600-0757 
WILEY 
HOBOKEN 
115-137 
10321220 
WOS:000078276000009 
The invasion of the furcation areas of multirooted teeth by periodontitis represents a serious complication in periodontal therapy. The furcation area is often inaccessible to adequate instrumentation, and frequently the roots present concavities and furrows which makes proper cleaning of the area impossible (8). As long as the pathological process is extending only a minor distance (<5 mm; degrees I and II involvement) into the furcation area, further progress of the disease can usually be prevented by scaling and root planing provided that a proper oral hygiene program is established after treatment (93). In more advanced cases (5-6 mm; degree II involvement) the initial cause related treatment is frequently supplemented with surgery involving contouring of the interradicular bone (osteoplasty) or reduction of the tooth prominence at the furcation entrance by grinding (odontoplasty), in order to reduce the horizontal extension of the furcation involvement (51). In cases where the involvement extends deeper into the furcation area (>5 mm; degree II involvement) or a through and through defect (degree III involvement) has developed, tunnel preparation or root resection has been advocated as the choice of treatment (18, 75). However, both of these latter treatments involve a risk of complications on a long-term basis. Following tunnel preparation, caries frequently develops in the furcation area and root resected teeth often present non-periodontal complications, although controversial reports exist regarding the long-term results of these treatment modalities (12, 34, 44-46, 66).Considering the complexity of current techniques for the treatment of furcation problems, and in the view of the long-term results and complications reported following treatment of advanced furcation involvements by traditionally resective therapy, predictable regeneration of the periodontium at furcation-involved sites would represent a considerable progress in periodontics.