Volumetric Soft Tissue Changes After Using Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin (I-PRF) Versus Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft in Interdental Papillae Defects: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

Abstract

Background: Lost interdental papillae in the esthetic region are of great concern from the esthetic and functional point of view. We elicit a clinical study of papillary reconstruction in this article using injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) as a nonsurgical procedure and compare its results to those of the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SECTG), being considered the gold standard method used to reconstruct interdental papillae. Methods: Twenty-four patients seeking treatment for black triangles were randomized into two groups: group A patients were treated with the SECTG technique, and group B patients were treated with I-PRF. Four injections were given at each papilla site at baseline, two-, four-, and six-week intervals to ensure optimal esthetics. Pain, clinical, and volumetric assessments were done. Volumetric assessment was completed through intraoral scanning of the papilla site at baseline and after six months, after which the results were obtained by superimposition of both scans. Results: Group A (5.08 ±2.15) had a significantly higher mean pain score value than group B (1.17 ±0.94) (p < 0.001). Group B (0.31 ±0.21) had a higher mean value of volumetric changes at the interdental papillae than group A (0.25 ±0.17), yet the difference was not significant (p = 0.517). Conclusion: Injectable platelet-rich fibrin gave comparable results to SECTG in Nordland Class I defects only, provided that the injection protocol was once every 15 days for a two-month period. Patients treated with I-PRF were more satisfied with the procedure and the results than patients who were treated with SECTG.