The incidence and severity of complications and pain following periodontal surgery.

This study examines the incidence and severity of postoperative complications and pain in 304 consecutive periodontal surgical cases. Comparisons were made between plastic soft tissue surgery, osseous surgery and pure mucogingival procedures. Multivariable analysis was used to ascertain significant associations of numerous factors to complications and pain. Postoperative complications were rated as moderate or severe in only 5.5% of the cases. Although the total postoperative complications were minimal, regression analysis revealed osseous surgery to be three times more likely than pure mucogingival surgery to cause complications of bleeding, infection, swelling or adverse tissue changes. Minimal or no postoperative pain was reported by 51.3% of the patients. Pure mucogingival surgery was significantly related to pain and was 3.5 times more likely to cause pain than osseous surgery and 6 times more likely than plastic soft tissue surgery. The duration of surgery was statistically significant for both complications and pain. The overall results of the study indicate the risks of undergoing periodontal surgery, in terms of postoperative complications and pain, are minimal.