Electron Microprobe Analysis in Guided Tissue Regeneration: A Case Report

OBJECTIVES Several procedures have been advocated as regenerative procedures in periodontology, but one of the most widely used techniques up to now is guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Likewise, different assessment methods based on clinical, radiographic or histological measurements have been proposed for the evaluation of these regenerative procedures. However, none of the methods used for human material incorporates quantitative X-ray microanalysis to assess the degree of mineralization of the regenerated periodontal hard tissues. The objective of this report was to evaluate, using quantitative X-ray microprobe analysis, the newly-formed hard tissue in a periodontal infrabony defect. METHODS Electron microprobe analysis was used to study the nature of the newly-formed hard tissue 3 years after treatment with guided tissue regeneration in a patient with localized aggressive periodontitis. RESULTS Our quantitative analyses, using the peak-to-background method, showed calcium/phosphorus mass ratio of 1.50 +/- 0.38 in the newly-formed hard tissue around the affected tooth root. CONCLUSION Quantitative X-ray microprobe analysis is a useful tool that may provide an accurate assessment of the degree of mineralization in an extremely small tissue sample.