Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by specific microorganisms or groups of specific microorganisms, resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with pocket formation, recession or both. ¹

Periodontal therapy aims primarily at the arrest of progression of disease, along with formation of new bone, cementum and periodontal ligament (PDL). ²

Various types of bone grafts have been used along with conventional surgical procedures for regeneration of bone and PDL.³ Hydroxyapatite, having a biomimetic property of replicating the native mineral content of bone tissue, is most commonly used. It is osteophilic and osteoconductive. Osteoconductive materials neither inhibit nor induce bone formation. They only act as a scaffold for bone formation.⁴

Hyaluronan or Hyaluronic acid, an important component of extra cellular matrix, on the other hand, has a stimulatory effect on osteoblasts.  Thus it imparts osteogenic and osteoconductive properties to bone graft, when added to it. It also acts as a connective tissue scaffold allowing cell growth and regeneration of bone.⁵

Hence an attempt is being made in this study to combine the properties of both the above materials for regeneration of bone.

As per our knowledge there are very sparse studies evaluating the efficacy of hyaluronan and bone graft together. Thus, in this study, an attempt is made to evaluate the regenerative property of hyaluronan in combination with Nano-hydroxyapatite bone graft in comparison with Nano-hydroxyapatite bone graft alone, in the surgical management of infrabony defects, in patients with chronic periodontitis.