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Background: The relationship between the anatomy of the interradicular space and success in regenerative therapy of furcation defects is discussed in this paper. The goal of this retrospective, multicenter clinical study is to clinically evaluate the relationship between the interradicular conformation and regenerative therapy success with the use of a novel measurement method., Methods: One hundred thirty-eight radiographs of mandibular molars with furcation defects that had been treated with regenerative therapy were collected from six clinical centers. Data on the type of therapy and clinical parameters before and after treatment (follow-up of at least 12 months) were collected. The radiographs (before surgery and at least 12 months postoperatively) were measured with a visual evaluation method by a blind operator using graphics software., Results: Success, defined as a reduction in horizontal and vertical furcation involvement, decrease in probing depths, and increase in clinical attachment level, was statistically assessed on 138 regenerated molars sites and were related to clinical variables such as age, sex, center, and treatment. No correlation was found between success in regenerative therapy and the conformation of the interradicular space, measured with a visual ratio method and a standard linear measurement. At the univariate analysis, the parameters that had a correlation with success were center, extent of furcation involvement, treatment, and sex. The use of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) seemed to be the most favorable therapy, with increase in CAL gain and reduction of vertical or horizontal furcation involvement., Conclusions: The regenerative outcome was not significantly influenced by the anatomy of furcation. The center, the degree of furcation involvement, sex, and treatment (EMD) were significantly associated with higher success of periodontal regeneration., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Even if it seems to be an important anatomical parameter for tissue regeneration, few studies in literature evaluate the "mean measure" of root divergence. Most of them are linear measurements, which hardly describe the dental furcation conformation in its entirety. It is left to the subjectivity of the operator deciding whether a furcation is convergent or divergent. The goal of this study is to create a visual evaluation method using specific measurements applied on endo-oral X-rays to overcome these problems, giving a conformation of the entire interradicular space and its divergence., Material and Methods: A user-friendly software (Paint®, Windows10®) was used to take three different measurements on endo-oral radiographs of upper and lower molars. Three blind operators measured 20 radiographs, to analyze the intra- and inter-operator reproducibility of the measurements. Then, the technique was repeated on 250 radiographic images to identify an average value and define a main conformation of the interradicular space. The ratio of these three measurements allowed to develop a new visual evaluation method of the interradicular space., Results: Intra and inter-operator reproducibility was statistically confirmed on a sample of 20 anonymous endo-oral radiographs measured by 3 blind operators, indicating that the measurement technique was not operator dependent. Measurement made on 250 X-rays obtained with this technique permitted to subdivide in five groups the conformation of the interradicular space and define a mean value of the interradicular space., Conclusions: A new anatomical evaluation of the interradicular space in its entirety, which could help the clinicians in diagnostic and decisional phase in the therapy of furcated molars, can be obtained., Clinical Relevance: A pre-operative evaluation of interradicular space conformation could affect therapy treatment choice., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aim: To compare the outcomes of modified coronally advanced flap (mCAF) combined with either xenogeneic dermal matrix (XDM) or connective tissue graft (CTG) for the treatment of multiple adjacent gingival recessions (MAGRs)., Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients, in whom 130 maxillary (MAGRs) of type (RT1) were found, were randomly allocated to the two groups. Clinical, esthetic, and patient-centered outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 6, and 12 months post-treatment., Result: Group CAF+ CTG exhibited a higher mean root coverage value (mRC) (91.79%) (primary outcome variable) than group CAF+XDM (80.19%) without statistically significant difference at 12 months (p=0.06). The control group also had significantly higher percentage of teeth in which complete root coverage (CRC) and mean gain of gingival thickness (GT) were achieved, than the test group (p<0.05). With respect to patient-centered outcomes, patients of the test group reported having experienced significantly less pain than those of the control group until 7 days (p<0.05). Both surgical approaches were capable of significantly decreasing dentin hypersensitivity (p<0.05). No difference between groups was found in the esthetic score analysis (p>0.05). Mean surgical time was lower in the test group (p<0.05)., Conclusion: The two treatments showed similar mRC. However, CAF+CTG was superior to CAF+XDM in providing CRC and in gaining GT. CAF+XDM demonstrated advantages over CAF+CTG with regard to patient morbidity and surgical time., Clinical Relevance: Application of XDM provided a better patient experience and shortened the time to recovery after coronally advanced flaps for coverage of multiple adjacent recessions. However, CTG resulted in improved percentages of complete root coverage., Trial Registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC) number: RBR-974c9j., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To compare gingival phenotype assessment methods based on soft tissue transparency on different backgrounds and assessor experience levels., Methods: For this purpose, 24 gingival specimens were retrieved from pig jaws with tissue thicknesses from 0.2 to 1.25 mm. Three methods were assessed: periodontal probe PCP12 (thin/thick), double-ended periodontal probe DBS12 (thin/moderate/thick) and colour-based phenotype probe CBP (thin/moderate/thick/very thick). Each sample was photographed with each probe underneath and categorized whether the probe was visible or not using different coloured backgrounds. To measure experience level influence, dentists, dental undergraduate students and laypersons (n = 10/group) performed the evaluation., Results: PCP12 probe showed a threshold between 0.4 and 0.5 mm. To distinct between thin and moderate thick gingiva, a comparable range for DBS12 was found while moderate thickness was between 0.5 and 0.8 mm and for thick above 0.8 mm. CBP also showed a comparable threshold of 0.5 mm for thin versus moderate as compared with the other methods; above 0.8 mm, predominantly a very thick tissue was measured. In general, the background colour had a minor impact on PCP12 and DBS12, and investigator experience showed no clear influence on GP assessment., Conclusion: Based on probe transparency and within the limitation of a preclinical study, we suggest GP differentiation into three entities: thin (< 0.5 mm; high risk), moderate (0.5-0.8 mm; medium risk) and thick (> 0.8 mm; low risk)., Clinical Relevance: All three GP assessment methods are easy to perform and seem to have a high predictive value with a three entities classification for DBS12 and CBP., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Objectives: The outcomes of periodontal soft tissue root coverage procedures can be influenced by a variety of different factors. Following coronally advanced flap (CAF), the impact of marginal flap stability (MFS) through the employment of specific suturing techniques has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to compare the MFS of CAF following three different suture techniques., Methods: Fifty-six CAF procedures were performed on seven fresh human cadaver heads. The MFS following simple interrupted, single sling or sling and tag (SAT) suture techniques were investigated through a specific tool involving a load cell-based recording device., Results: A highly statistically significant MFS was observed for sling and SAT sutures compared to the simple interrupted suture (p < 0.001). SAT suture technique was related to the greatest MFS (p < 0.001). The addition of sutures to the vertical releasing incision was able to provide a greater MFS compared to the suturing of the papillae alone (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed with regard to the suturing sequence between the two sling groups when the vertical incisions were sutured before or after the surgical papillae (p > 0.05). Linear regression model showed a positive correlation between thicker gingival tissue and MFS changes (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Suturing technique highly affects the MFS following CAF on cadavers. Flap thickness was shown to be a positive predictor for flap stability., Clinical Relevance: Within the limitation of this study, the suturing of CAF with the SAT technique may provide higher MFS. However, clinical studies are necessary to validate these findings.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a hemostatic collagen sponge and a collagen sponge sealed with a bio-adhesive material on the palatal donor sites with the purpose of minimizing postoperative pain after epithelialized gingival graft (EGG) harvesting., Material and Methods: The present study consisted of 44 EGGs harvested in 44 patients. In the control group, a hemostatic collagen sponge was applied over the palatal wound, while the test group was treated with additional cyanoacrylate. Patients were observed for 14 days, evaluating the pain level by using the visual analogic scale. The consumption of analgesic during the postoperative period, the willingness for retreatment and the characteristic of the graft were also analyzed., Results: Statistically significant differences in pain perception were found between test and control groups in each of the studied days (p < 0.01). Analgesic consumption was lower in the test group (p < 0.01). Graft width < 14 mm was found to be associated with lower discomfort (p < 0.01)., Conclusions: Adding an additional layer of cyanoacrylate over a hemostatic collagen sponge on the palatal wound following EGG harvesting was found to be successful in minimizing the postoperative discomfort and the need for analgesics., Clinical Relevance: Postoperative pain after palatal tissue harvesting can be successfully minimized if the donor site open wound is protected with an external layer of cyanoacrylate over a collagen sponge.