Glass ionomer cement used as surgical dressing after radical surgical exposure of impacted teeth.

GPA cement was tested as an alternative to conventional surgical dressings in connection with radical surgical exposure of teeth. The material comprised 29 patients (mean age 14 4/12 years) with 35 impacted maxillary canines in palatinal position. Soft tissue and bone covering one fifth to one quarter of the tooth crown were removed. The enamel was cleaned with physiological saline and dried with gauze pads. Ketac-Fil was applied using the ESPE Aplicap system. Application stopped when the level of intact mucosa was reached. At control after 1-2 weeks (35 teeth) all packs were in place. Healing conditions were normal and soft tissue regrowth was not seen. At control after 1-6 months (23 teeth) 10 dressings were in place. Surrounding mucosa was healthy regardless of the presence of absence of pack. Soft tissue regrowth was not seen. 6-16 months postoperatively (12 teeth) all packs except 1 had been lost. Soft tissue regrowth in combination with eruption failure was seen in 2 patients. In these cases the packs had been lost soon after the first control, i.e. before healing had been completed. The results indicate that GPA cement can be recommended as an alternative to conventional surgical dressings in connection with radical surgical exposure of teeth.