Papilla healing following sulcular full thickness flap in endodontic surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to analyze recession of the interdental papilla in periodontally healthy situations following apical surgery using sulcular flap incisions.

STUDY

DESIGN

Apical surgeries were performed in 13 patients with good periodontal health. A sulcular full thickness flap involving at least 1 interproximal space was raised, using microsurgical instruments and magnification with the least possible trauma. The papillae were closed with vertical mattress sutures (polyamide 6/0) and removed after 3-5 days. The height of the interdental papilla was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month and 3 months using plaster casts and measured with a laser scanner. Thirteen surgical sites were compared to untreated papillae. The pairwise t test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

All experimental sites exhibited a significant loss of papilla height at 1 month (P <.003) and 3 months (P <.004). At 3 months retractions increased in 10 sites, while in 3 sites the loss had diminished compared to the 1-month value.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the conventional sulcular flap results in considerable retraction of the papilla height after 1 month and 3 months postsurgically.