Why haven’t we been able to achieve the same results in human clinical studies, since the same materials are available for use in humans? One key difference between humans and beagle dogs is the amount and shape of the oral tissues. Periodontal surgery on beagles is quite different than on humans. Beagle gum tissue and oral mucosa is found in greater amounts and has far more elasticity than humans. In fact, the researchers were actually able to stretch the gums of the dogs up and over the tops of the teeth! With sutures in place, the growth factor and collagen carrier and teeth were completely submerged beneath the canine gums and mucosa. Under such conditions the phenomena of regeneration was able to occur. In fact we know from human studies that when the bone, tooth, and periodontal ligament are protected from the oral environment by being completely submerged beneath the gums, and the chewing forces are no longer being inflicted on the teeth, regeneration can predictably occur, in fact complete regeneration can occur. But how could we possibly submerge the teeth beneath the gums to recreate such conditions? Well the answer is for humans at least, that we can’t. But for regeneration to occur, we said the healing environment must be protected from the oral cavity, and chewing forces on the teeth need to be reduced and not necessarily submerged beneath the gums. Could there be another way to create the perfect healing environment for true regeneration to occur? In our next news letter we will discuss how the ideal conditions for regeneration have finally come together, and how periodontal therapy has changed in a big way.
