Guided Tissue Regeneration
Also written as: GTR — Guided Tissue Regeneration
A periodontal regenerative surgical technique that uses a barrier membrane to exclude epithelial and connective tissue cells from the wound site, allowing periodontal ligament and bone cells to repopulate the defect.
Full Definition
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is based on the biological principle that only specific cell populations (periodontal ligament cells, alveolar bone cells, and cementoblasts) have the capacity to regenerate a true functional periodontium. A barrier membrane — either resorbable or non-resorbable — is placed over the bony defect to prevent the faster-migrating epithelial and gingival fibroblast cells from occupying the space before periodontal regeneration can occur. Editors must distinguish GTR from guided bone regeneration (GBR), which is used exclusively for bone augmentation in implant site preparation without the goal of regenerating a periodontal ligament.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use 'GTR' and 'GBR' interchangeably; GTR targets periodontal regeneration, while GBR is specific to implant-related bone augmentation.
In Context
- "Guided tissue regeneration using a resorbable collagen membrane was performed in conjunction with a xenograft to treat the intrabony defect." — Surgical case report
- "The authors noted that GTR outcomes were superior in three-wall defects compared with two-wall configurations." — Systematic review abstract