A comparison of postoperative pain experience following periodontal surgery using two local anesthetic agents

This controlled, double-blind, split-mouth study was designed to evaluate postoperative pain experience following periodontal surgery on 20 patients. Two commercially available local anesthetic agents, bupivacaine HCl and lidocaine HCl, were used. Periodontal surgeries were standardized to minimize differences in difficulty, extent and time. A patient questionnaire was used to collect data for the 24-hour observation period following periodontal surgery. During this period, pain perception was assessed by visual analogue scales. The results indicated that when bupivacaine was used, there was less postoperative pain, fewer postoperative analgesics taken and a longer period of "numbness" (anesthesia) as compared to lidocaine. The patients expressed a strong preference for bupivacaine over lidocaine.

The analgesic efficacy of suprofen in periodontal and oral surgical pain

Suprofen is a new, orally effective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory analgesic of the propionic acid chemical class. Three separate single-dose studies were performed to evaluate the efficacy of suprofen in acute pain associated with periodontal surgery and removal of impacted third molars. Study medications were: A--suprofen 200 mg, codeine 60 mg, propoxyphene HCl 65 mg, and placebo; B--suprofen 400 mg and 200 mg, aspirin 650 mg, and placebo; C--suprofen 400 mg and 200 mg, aspirin 650 mg with codeine 60 mg, aspirin 650 mg alone, and placebo. Analgesic and side effect data were collected over a 6-hour period after patients medicated for moderate to severe pain. All studies were randomized, double-blinded, and parallel-group in design. Suprofen was significantly more effective than codeine 60 mg, propoxyphene HCl 65 mg, and aspirin 650 mg. Suprofen 400 mg appeared to be clinically more effective than the aspirin-codeine combination and the difference was statistically significant for most of the analgesic variables. Of the 224 patients who received suprofen in the 3 studies, 16 reported drowsiness and 1 reported constipation.

Periodontal disease. Therapy and prevention

Success in veterinary dentistry lies in good home care and regular, thorough dental prophylaxis. The removal of supragingival and subgingival calculus must be accomplished before periodontal disease can be controlled. When gingival sulcus depths exceed 4 or 5 mm, the gingivae must be excised or reflected to allow proper treatment of the pocket area. Antibiotic therapy should be instituted in the extensively involved veterinary dental patient.

New attachment formation in the human periodontium by guided tissue regeneration. Case reports

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a regenerative surgical procedure, based on guided tissue regeneration, could predictably result in the formation of a new attachment in human teeth. The material included 12 teeth in 10 patients with advanced periodontal disease. Following flap elevation, scaling, root planing and removal of granulation tissue, a teflon membrane was placed over the denuded root surface in such a way that the epithelium and the gingival connective tissue were prevented from reaching contact with the root during healing. The flap was replaced on the outer surface of the membrane and secured with interdental sutures. This design of wound preparation gives preference to the cells originating from the periodontal ligament (PDL-cells) to repopulate the wound area adjacent to the root. Histologic analysis of the result of treatment was made in 5 of the 12 teeth scheduled for extraction. In the remaining 7 teeth, the result was evaluated using clinical measurements. The result of healing disclosed that in all teeth treated, substantial amounts of new attachment had formed. This suggests that predictable restitution of the attachment apparatus can be accomplished by using a method of treatment which is based on the principle of guided tissue regeneration.

Full dentition periodontal surgery using intravenous conscious-sedation. A report of 10,000 cases

In 1980 Ceravolo, et al, reported the results of 5200 cases of periodontal surgery performed in dental offices on patients while under conscious sedation. In no instance was a major complication noted. Successful case management coupled with a high degree of patient acceptance prompted the authors to continue to perform full dentition periodontal surgery with the aid of conscious sedation plus local anesthesia. To date, 10,000 cases have been completed in this manner. As yet no major complications have been noted.