Background: Clinical follow-up of four different periodontal splint materials was carried out.

Methods: Fourty-nine subjects were randomly divided into four splint methods. Four different splint materials were evaluated in this study: (1) RB: Polyethylene FRC Ribbond Thm (2) Kerr: Polyethylene FRC Construct (3) MFL: Multifilament Fishing Line (4) Non Fiber Reinforced Composite as a control group. The control group consisted of 10 subjects, while 13 subjects were in RB, Kerr and MFL. After splinting procedures, the subjects were recalled three years later. Clinical periodontal parameters including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment level (CAL) and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) were performed at baseline and after three years.

Results: The survival rate was significantly affected by the splint type (RB:93.5%, Kerr:92.3%, MFL:85.8%, Control:68.4%). Periodontal parameters including PI, GI, CAL and PPD were decreased but similar between the four groups during the follow-up period.

Conclusions: Only resin composite application seems to be inadequate for periodontal splinting during 3 years. MFL splints are also economic and quite resistant, and they might be used as an alternative to fiber-reinforced composites.