Do Gingival Soft Tissues Benefit From the Application of a Papilla Preservation Flap Technique in Endodontic Surgery?

Factors that influence the outcomes of surgical endodontic treatment

Surgical endodontic treatment encompasses a broad spectrum of procedures, amongst which root-end cavity preparation and filling, retrograde root canal treatment and through-and-through endodontic surgery, may be classified under the umbrella term 'Root-end surgery'. This narrative review considers the available data on periapical healing, soft tissue healing, tooth survival and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), following root-end surgery and the factors that affect its outcomes. The pooled periapical healed rate for the studies published up to 2021 was 69% (95% CI: 65%, 73%) but increased to 76% (95% CI: 66%, 86%) when only data from the 2020's studies were analysed. The prognostic factors consistently reported for periapical healing have included: pre-operative periapical lesion with complete loss of buccal plate, quality of root-end preparation, remaining thickness of apical root dentine and restorative status. Soft tissue healing of the reflected flap was found to have a positive association with periapical healing. The survival rates following root-end surgery range from 48% to 93%, with failure of periapical healing associated with root and crown fracture, being the predominant reasons for tooth extraction. The factors influencing impact of root-end surgery on patients' quality of life could not be adequately evaluated due to design flaws in the available studies. In conclusion, if root canal treatment failure due to leakage through cracks, fractures or restoration margin are excluded, the remaining cases may represent localized residual infection and inflammation at the periapex that should be amenable to predictable management with the aid of modern root-end surgery.

Influence of marginal incision and Le Fort I osteotomy on periodontal tissues: a prospective longitudinal study

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate whether the surgical protocol involving marginal incision and Le Fort I osteotomy affects the periodontal outcome. Twenty-nine patients requiring surgical correction of maxillary dysgnathia were selected for this study. Periodontal conditions of maxillary anterior teeth were assessed prior to the surgery (T₀), one month (T₁), and 6 months (T₂) after the surgical procedure. Interdental papillae loss, periodontal parameters and aesthetic outcomes in the anterior zone were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed with Friedman´s test and within ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05) followed by post-hoc tests. Papilla height decreased from T₀ to T₁ (p = 0.003), followed by an increase from T₁ to T₂ (p = 0.040). PPD (T₀ = 1.72 ± 0.46; T₂ = 2.13 ± 0.43) and CAL (T₀ = 1.24 ± 0.55; T₂ = 1.99 ± 0.70) increased after 6 months. There were statistically significant differences in aesthetic score among T₀, T₁ and T₂. Periodontal changes after orthognathic surgery were within acceptable biological levels. Although a change in papillae height was reported after the surgery, initial values were recovered after 6 months. Surgical incision design might improve the outcome of Le-Fort I osteotomy. Anterior aesthetic zone may benefit from a marginal incision design, as it respects vascularization principle and may ensure a wound healing without complications.

Effect of full sulcular versus papilla-sparing flap on periodontal parameters in periradicular surgeries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:

Access to apical root canal system is gained after flap elevation using various incision techniques. Soft-tissue healing after periradicular surgery may include gingival recession, papilla recession, changes in probing depth, and clinical attachment loss.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of full sulcular flap design versus papilla-sparing flap design on the periodontal parameters in periradicular surgeries.

Materials and Methods:

It was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Electronic and manual searches were conducted in multiple databases including PubMed, Dental and Oral Sciences, Cochrane, and CINAHL Plus until May 2019. Initial search yielded 2575 studies with 5 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The primary outcomes assessed were gingival recession and change in the papilla height. The secondary outcomes evaluated were probing depth, clinical attachment loss, postoperative pain, bleeding, and discomfort. Random-effects model was employed for computation of effect size, and forest plots were made.

Results:

Out of the five articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria, three were randomized control trials and two were nonrandom trials. No significant differences were found in the gingival recession (P = 0.79), papilla height (P = 0.55), gingival bleeding, and plaque indices. Statistically significant differences in probing depth (P = 0.006) and clinical attachment loss (P = 0.0004) were observed for the two flap designs in probing depth (P = 0.006) and clinical attachment loss (P = 0.0004).

Conclusions:

The present systematic review and meta-analysis showed that probing depth and attachment loss are affected by the choice of flap design. On the other hand, gingival recession and papilla height are not influenced by the type of incision. However, finding of the present review may change if more studies on this topic will be included in the future. Therefore, more clinical trials with long-term follow-ups are needed.

Influence of incision on periodontal parameters after apical surgery: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present meta-analysis was to determine the effect of the different incision designs used in apical surgery on periodontal parameters.

METHODS

An electronic search in Cochrane Library, Pubmed (MEDLINE), and Scopus was conducted on April 2020. Two independent investigators included clinical trials and prospective cohort studies comparing the influence of different incision designs used in apical surgery on gingival recession, periodontal probing depth, and clinical attachment level. A pairwise and network meta-analysis was performed in order to meta-analyze the direct and the indirect comparisons among the incision designs.

RESULTS

Six articles were included for the qualitative and the quantitative syntheses, involving a total of 401 teeth (372 patients). The pairwise meta-analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences between the incision designs in any of the outcomes evaluated. However, to reduce the amount of buccal gingival recession, the papilla base incision presented the highest probabilities of being ranked the most effective incision (85.7%), followed by submarginal incision (50.0%) and intrasulcular incision (14.3%).

CONCLUSION

Regardless of the incision design used, the periodontal parameters did not statistically differ after apical surgery.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Periodontal parameters did not significantly change despite the incision used in apical surgery. However, based on the results of the present review, the papilla base incision seems to be the best option to reduce the amount of buccal gingival recession.

Clinical and Radiographic Assessment of Cases Referred to Endodontic Surgery

Objective

The objective of the study was to assess the quality of root canal fillings of cases referred to endodontic surgery using preoperative radiographs and correlate it with endodontic surgery treatment decision. The objective was also to analyse clinical symptoms and size of periapical lesions on radiographs and correlate them with treatment decisions including non-surgical retreatment, endodontic surgery and extraction.

Materials and Methods

A questionnaire was composed to record the data. Eighty-six patients with 109 teeth, who were referred to endodontic surgery, participated in the research. The quality of root canal filling was assessed according to its homogeneity and filling length on digital radiographs. The data were analyzed using χ2-test and t-test.

Results

Of the teeth referred to endodontic surgery, 97.2% were treated by a general practice dentist, endodontic retreatment was attempted in 20.6%, and root canal filling was homogeneous and within 1 mm from the apex in 21.6%. Endodontic surgery, retreatment, extraction and no treatment were selected in 90.1%, 5.4%, 1.8% and 2.7% of the cases, respectively.

Conclusions

Low percentage of adequate root canal fillings and high percentage of endodontic surgery decisions suggest that there is a need to increase awareness of non-surgical retreatment options.

Endodontic procedures for retreatment of periapical lesions

BACKGROUND

When primary root canal therapy fails, periapical lesions can be retreated with or without surgery. Root canal retreatment is a non-surgical procedure that involves removal of root canal filling materials from the tooth, followed by cleaning, shaping and obturating of the canals. Root-end resection is a surgical procedure that involves exposure of the periapical lesion through an osteotomy, surgical removal of the lesion, removal of part of the root-end tip, disinfection and, commonly, retrograde sealing or filling of the apical portion of the remaining root canal. This review updates one published in 2008.

OBJECTIVES

To assess effects of surgical and non-surgical therapy for retreatment of teeth with apical periodontitis.To assess effects of surgical root-end resection under various conditions, for example, when different materials, devices or techniques are used.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following electronic databases: the Cochrane Oral Health Trials Register (to 10 February 2016), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 1), MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 10 February 2016) and Embase Ovid (1980 to 10 February 2016). We searched the US National Registry of Clinical Trials (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for ongoing trials (to 10 February 2016). We placed no restrictions regarding language and publication date. We handsearched the reference lists of the studies retrieved and key journals in the field of endodontics.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving people with periapical pathosis. Studies could compare surgery versus non-surgical treatment or could compare different types of surgery. Outcome measures were healing of the periapical lesion assessed after one-year follow-up or longer; postoperative pain and discomfort; and adverse effects such as tooth loss, mobility, soft tissue recession, abscess, infection, neurological damage or loss of root sealing material evaluated through radiographs.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data from included studies and assessed their risk of bias. We contacted study authors to obtain missing information. We combined results of trials assessing comparable outcomes using the fixed-effect model, with risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used generic inverse variance for split-mouth studies.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 20 RCTs. Two trials at high risk of bias assessed surgery versus a non-surgical approach: root-end resection with root-end filling versus root canal retreatment. The other 18 trials evaluated different surgical protocols: cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) versus periapical radiography for preoperative assessment (one study at high risk of bias); antibiotic prophylaxis versus placebo (one study at unclear risk); different magnification devices (loupes, surgical microscope, endoscope) (two studies at high risk); types of incision (papilla base incision, sulcular incision) (one study at high risk and one at unclear risk); ultrasonic devices versus handpiece burs (one study at high risk); types of root-end filling material (glass ionomer cement, amalgam, intermediate restorative material (IRM), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), gutta-percha (GP), super-ethoxy benzoic acid (EBA)) (five studies at high risk of bias, one at unclear risk and one at low risk); grafting versus no grafting (three studies at high risk and one at unclear risk); and low energy level laser therapy versus placebo (irradiation without laser activation) versus control (no use of the laser device) (one study at high risk).There was no clear evidence of superiority of the surgical or non-surgical approach for healing at one-year follow-up (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.35; two RCTs, 126 participants) or at four- or 10-year follow-up (one RCT, 82 to 95 participants), although the evidence is very low quality. More participants in the surgically treated group reported pain in the first week after treatment (RR 3.34, 95% CI 2.05 to 5.43; one RCT, 87 participants; low quality evidence).In terms of surgical protocols, there was some inconclusive evidence that ultrasonic devices for root-end preparation may improve healing one year after retreatment, when compared with the traditional bur (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.30; one RCT, 290 participants; low quality evidence).There was evidence of better healing when root-ends were filled with MTA than when they were treated by smoothing of orthograde GP root filling, after one-year follow-up (RR 1.60, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.24; one RCT, 46 participants; low quality evidence).There was no evidence that using CBCT rather than radiography for preoperative evaluation was advantageous for healing (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.47; one RCT, 39 participants; very low quality evidence), nor that any magnification device affected healing more than any other (loupes versus endoscope at one year: RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.20; microscope versus endoscope at two years: RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.15; one RCT, 70 participants, low quality evidence).There was no evidence that antibiotic prophylaxis reduced incidence of postoperative infection (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.09 to 2.64; one RCT, 250 participants; low quality evidence).There was some evidence that using a papilla base incision (PBI) may be beneficial for preservation of the interdental papilla compared with complete papilla mobilisation (one RCT (split-mouth), 12 participants/24 sites; very low quality evidence). There was no evidence of less pain in the PBI group at day 1 post surgery (one RCT, 38 participants; very low quality evidence).There was evidence that adjunctive use of a gel of plasma rich in growth factors reduced postoperative pain compared with no grafting (measured on visual analogue scale: one day postoperative MD -51.60 mm, 95% CI -63.43 to -39.77; one RCT, 36 participants; low quality evidence).There was no evidence that use of low energy level laser therapy (LLLT) prevented postoperative pain (very low quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Available evidence does not provide clinicians with reliable guidelines for treating periapical lesions. Further research is necessary to understand the effects of surgical versus non-surgical approaches, and to determine which surgical procedures provide the best results for periapical lesion healing and postoperative quality of life. Future studies should use standardised techniques and success criteria, precisely defined outcomes and the participant as the unit of analysis.

Does the Papilla Preservation Flap Technique Induce Soft Tissue Modifications over Time in Endodontic Surgery Procedures?

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present controlled clinical trial was to compare 2 incision techniques, papilla base incision (PBI) and sulcular incision (IS), evaluating changes in papilla and recession height over a 12-month period.

METHODS

A total of 24 subjects requiring endodontic surgery on a single tooth were enrolled. PBI was used in 1 group and IS in the other group. The primary outcomes were changes in gingival recession of the tooth affected by periapical lesions and the mesial and distal teeth and the mesial and distal papilla height using the treated tooth as the reference. Outcome variables were assessed at baseline and 12 months after the surgical intervention. Statistical analysis was performed by a blinded operator through appropriate tests, with significance set at a P value equal to .05.

RESULTS

In the PBI group, the papilla height at the 12-month follow-up in the mesial and distal aspect decreased 0.10 ± 0.32 mm and 0.10 ± 0.32 mm, respectively, and 0.23 ± 0.68 mm and 0.25 ± 0.40 mm, respectively, in the IS group without any significant differences. There were no differences found for recession change values between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The PBI and IS approaches in endodontic surgery showed similar results in terms of papilla height preservation and recession changes.