Methods and articles for treating periodontal disease and bone defects

An article for the treatment of a periodontal defect by promoting gingival tissue attachment about a desired sulcus line comprising a flexible, flattened member having first and second juxtaposed surfaces meeting at a boundary wherein said member is adapted to at least partially encircle the perimeter of the tooth to be treated, said first surface comprising a porous, biocompatible material configured for supporting ingrowth of gingival connective tissue and for preventing the migration of gingival epithelium, and configured to surround at least a portion of the perimeter of the tooth immediately apical to the desired sulcus line with the porous first surface abutting the gingival connective tissue, said second surface comprising a material substantially impermeable to oral tissues and configured to surround at least a portion of the perimeter of the tooth apical to the first surface and at least partially cover the periodontal defect.

An article for the treatment of a periodontal defect comprising a length of flexible material having a longitudinally continuous porous surface configured for supporting ingrowth of gingival connective tissue and for preventing the migration of gingival epithelium, said length having a flattened, biocompatible surface opposing said porous surface, and means for fixing said flattened surface in a laminar relationship to a tooth surface.

An article for the treatment of a periodontal defect comprising a length of flexible, flattened porous material configured for supporting ingrowth of gingival connective tissue and for preventing migration of gingival epithelium, said length having at least one filament attached to each of at least two opposite ends.

An article of manufacture for use in prosthetic implants for treating tissue defects and capable of supporting preferential tissue ingrowth, the article comprising a flexible, flattened member of one or more biocompatible materials having portions defining first and second juxtaposed surfaces meeting at a boundary, said first surface being configured to at least partially surround the defect and being capable of supporting the ingrowth or attachment of connective tissue and said second surface being configured to at least partially cover the defect and being substantially impermeable to tissue ingrowth and bacteria.

An article of manufacture for use in prosthetic implants and capable of supporting preferential connective tissue ingrowth and/or attachment for treating bone defects, the article comprising a flexible, flattened member having respective portions defining first and second juxtaposed surfaces, said first surface at least partially surrounding said second surface, wherein said first surface is capable of supporting connective tissue ingrowth and/or attachment and wherein the relative permeability of said first and said second surfaces to connective tissue ingrowth and bacteria is different.