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.
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.