Objectives: In-vitro data have shown that cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) enhances the proliferative and migratory properties of cells involved in periodontal wound healing/regeneration, stabilizes the blood clot, reduces the inflammatory response, and facilitates angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to histologically evaluate the effects of cross-linked HA alone or combined with a collagen matrix (CM) on the periodontal wound healing/regeneration in intrabony defects. Method and materials: Two-wall intrabony defects (5 mm wide, 5 mm deep) were surgically created at the distal and mesial aspects of mandibular premolars in six beagle dogs. The 24 defects were randomly treated as follows: open flap debridement (OFD) + HA, OFD + CM, OFD + HA + CM (HA/CM), and OFD alone (control). At 2 months, the animals were euthanized for histologic evaluation.
Results: The HA (2.43 ± 1.25 mm) and HA/CM (2.60 ± 0.99 mm) groups yielded statistically significantly (P < .05) greater formation of new attachment (ie, linear length of new cementum adjacent to newly formed bone, with inserting collagen fibers) compared with the OFD (0.55 ± 0.99 mm) group. Among the four treatment groups, the HA/CM group demonstrated the highest amount of regenerated tissues, although no statistically significant differences in any of the histometric parameters were observed between the HA and HA/CM groups.
Conclusion: Within their limits, it can be concluded that cross-linked HA alone or combined with CM promotes periodontal wound healing/regeneration in two-wall intrabony defects in dogs.