Modified Widman Flap Surgery Research Articles

Clinical Evaluation of Diode Laser-Assisted Surgical Periodontal Therapy: A Randomized Split-Mouth Clinical Trial and Bacteriological Study.

Background: Stage 3 grade C periodontitis (S3GCP) has always been a challenge for clinicians. However, it is proposed that the use of lasers in addition to periodontal therapy can result in a more efficient therapy outcome. Objective: The aim of this clinical study was to determine the effects of additional application of diode laser (DL, 810 nm ±5) on clinical and microbiological values during Modified Widman Flap (MWF) periodontal surgery in the S3GCP patients. Methods: A total of 18 patients were randomly assigned to the test site (MWF + activeDL) and the control site (MFW alone). Clinical parameters and microbial samples were taken preoperatively, and postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Visual analog scale (VAS), tissue edema (TE), tissue color (TC), and pain medication (PM) consumption, were evaluated postoperatively at 10th day. Results: All bacteria were significantly decreased at follow-up times compared with preoperative amounts in both therapy sites (p < 0.05). Bacterial amounts of Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans at 6 weeks, Porphyromonas gingivalis and T. denticola at 3 months, T. denticola and A. actinomycetemcomitans at 6 months were statistically lower in the test site than the control site. All clinical parameters significantly improved after MWF surgery at follow-up times compared with preoperative values in intragroup comparisons, but a significant difference was not detected in the intergroup comparison. No differences were found in terms of VAS, PM, TE, and only TC was statistically more pink in the test site than the control site. Conclusions: The present study findings suggest that the use of DL together with MWF may have positive effects in the therapy of S3GCP patients by reducing the microbial load. Clinical Trial.org: NCT05108727.

Comparative evaluation of postoperative pain and tissue response in patients undergoing conventional flap surgeries with or without 940 nm diode laser exposure - A randomized clinical study.

Over the past few years, a growing body of evidence has allowed us to ascertain that the initiation of periodontitis stems from the existence of oral microbial biofilm and that this requires definitive treatment. Owing to its exceptional usability, affordability, and antibacterial activity, the "diode laser" (DL) has increasingly become a popular and important tool in a dentist's armamentarium. However, there is a scarcity of scientific evidence on the utility and advantages of using "diode laser" in periodontal flap surgery. The study aimed to determine the efficacy of 940 nm diode laser exposure in combination with conventional periodontal flap surgery for the treatment of chronic periodontitis to evaluate postoperative discomfort and clinical parameters. A total of 10 subjects (7 males and 3 females) with generalized chronic periodontitis were recruited and completed the study without any dropouts. For this split-mouth study, 40 sample sites with pocket probing depth (PPD) 5-7 mm post periodontal Phase I therapy were selected. The quadrants were randomly allocated to Groups A, B, C, and D using the fish bowl lottery method. Kirkland flap surgery with laser and modified Widman flap (MWF) with laser were performed in Group A and C, respectively, while Kirkland flap surgery and MWF surgery were performed in Group B and Group D. Clinical parameters including visual analog scale (VAS) score and gingival inflammation were determined at 3rd and 7th day postoperatively while PPD, clinical attachment level (CAL), and sulcus bleeding index (SBI) were recorded at baseline and 6 months following treatment. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for intra-group and inter-group comparison of parameters, respectively. Statistically significant difference was attained with postoperative discomfort in laser-assisted groups on 1st and 3rd day postoperatively (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the proportion of subjects with gingival inflammation. A statistically significant reduction in mean PPD at 6 months postoperatively was seen among all study groups (P < 0.05) but the inter-group difference was not statistically significant. SBI score reduced significantly from baseline to 6 months follow-up among all four groups (P < 0.05). However, we did not find the inter-group difference to be statistically non-significant. Diode laser as an adjunct to the surgical procedure can demonstrate appreciable benefits by increasing the CAL and minimizing the postoperative pain and the probing pocket, but such additional effects were not observed with gingival inflammation.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of diode laser as an adjunct to modified Widman flap surgery for the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A randomized split-mouth clinical trial.

Background:Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is mainly initiated by plaque biofilm which may require treatment using periodontal flap surgery. Recently, diode lasers have become popular in the field of periodontology owing to advantages such as antibacterial effect, promoting angiogenesis, and providing hemostasis. However, scientific data on application of diode laser in periodontal flap surgery and its benefits are limited. Hence, the aim of the study was to investigate the adjunctive effect of removal of remnant pocket epithelium by 980 nm diode laser and biostimulation in modified Widman flap (MWF) surgery for the treatment of chronic periodontitis.Materials and Methods:A total of 20 patients with generalized chronic periodontitis with pocket probing depth (PPD) ≥5mm post Phase I therapy were selected for this split-mouth study. MWF surgery was performed in Group 1, and in Group 2, MWF surgery with adjunctive diode laser de-epithelization and biostimulation was done. Clinical parameters including PPD, clinical attachment level, plaque index, and gingival index were recorded at baseline and 3 months following treatment, and postprocedural pain (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] score) was assessed 1-week posttreatment. In addition, colony-forming units/milliliter (CFU/ml) of anaerobic bacteria at baseline and 3 months were microbiologically examined.Results:MWF surgery along with diode laser led to a significant improvement in Group 2 compared to Group 1 in clinical parameters such as PPD, relative clinical attachment level, VAS score as well as microbial parameter CFU/ml after 3 months.Conclusion:Diode laser as an adjunct to MWF in chronic periodontitis can provide enhanced clinical attachment gain with little postoperative discomfort.

Use of modified vertical internal mattress suture versus simple loop interrupted suture in modified Widman flap surgery: a randomized clinical study.

Close approximation and stabilization of gingival flaps, vital for optimum outcome of surgical procedures, may be difficult to achieve in deep periodontal pockets by routinely used suturing techniques. Modified vertical internal mattress sutures have been reported to be useful in reducing dead space along with achievement of wound stability. The present study compares the outcome of flap closure by use of modified vertical internal mattress sutures and simple loop interrupted sutures in the surgical management of chronic periodontitis. In total, 83 participants with chronic periodontitis received scaling and root planing. After 8 weeks, modified Widman flap surgery was performed in 48 patients at sites with probing pocket depth ≥ 4 mm. Modified vertical internal mattress sutures were placed in the test group (n = 24) and simple loop interrupted sutures were used in the control group (n = 24). Plaque Index (Silness and Loe), Gingival Index (Loe and Silness), bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and gingival recession were recorded on the day of surgery, and at 3 and 6 months of follow-up. Statistically significant improvement was noted in all the clinical parameters of both groups. The test group showed significantly greater improvement in probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and Gingival Index, although Plaque Index scores were similar. This improvement was confined to nonmolars only. Flap closure by modified vertical internal mattress suturing technique results in better improvement in periodontal clinical parameters than the use of simple loop interrupted sutures, especially in nonmolars.

Evaluation of postsurgical clinical outcomes with/without removal of pocket epithelium: A split mouth randomized trial.

Background:Periodontitis is bacteria-related chronic inflammatory condition characterized by pocket formation, loss of clinical attachment, gingival recession, mobility, and eventual loss of teeth. The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate the need for elimination of the pocket epithelium during mucoperiosteal flap surgery aimed at reattachment or re-adaptation.Materials and Methods:A split mouth design was done to compare modified Widman flap (MWF) with removal of the pocket epithelium and crevicular mucoperiosteal flap (CMF) without removing the pocket epithelium. The following measurements were taken after 1 month of completion of nonsurgical phase gingival index (Loe and Silness), plaque index (Silness and Loe), mobility, furcation involvement, level of attachment, pocket depth, gingival recession, gingival contour index, and dentinal hypersensitivity (ice stick test). In addition to these measurements, which were taken immediately prior to the surgery (baseline), 1- and 3-month and 6 months postsurgical measurements were also recorded.Results:The results of this study showed a greater reduction of mean probing depth in the test group (MWF). The control group (CMF) showed greater mean gingival recession compared to the test group throughout the study period. The test group showed more gain in the clinical attachment levels compared with the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001).Conclusions:The results of this study demonstrate that MWF surgery was more effective in reducing mean probing depth, showed greater gain in clinical attachment, and demonstrated less gingival recession.

The Effect of an 810‐nm Diode Laser on Postoperative Pain and Tissue Response After Modified Widman Flap Surgery: A Pilot Study in Humans

The purpose of this single-masked pilot clinical study is to compare the tissue response and postoperative pain after the use of a diode laser (810 nm) (DL) as an adjunct to modified Widman flap (MWF) surgery to that of MWF alone. Thirteen patients with generalized severe chronic periodontitis completed the study. Control sites were randomly selected to receive an MWF and the contralateral test sites an MWF in conjunction with a DL. The study tooth/site was treated plus any additional teeth in the quadrant in which the site was located, if needed. Randomization was done using a coin flip. The DL was used to de-epithelialize the inner part of the periodontal flap and photo-biostimulate the surgical area. Pain scale assessment (PS), pain medication consumption (PM), tissue edema (TE), and tissue color (TC) were evaluated 1 week after surgery. Statistically significant differences were seen for TE (P = 0.041), PM (P <0.001), and PS (P <0.001) favoring test sites. TC did not show a statistically significant difference (P = 0.9766). Patients rated the first surgical treatment (test or control; random assignment to first treatment) performed as more painful than the second (P <0.002). The use of an 810-nm diode laser provided additional benefits to MWF surgery in terms of less edema and postoperative pain.

Invasive cervical root resorption 15 years after modified Widman flap surgery

Invasive cervical root resorption is a relatively uncommon form of external root resorption. Creeping attachment is defined as postoperative coronal migration of the gingival margin. We describe a case of invasive cervical root resorption following coronal shift of interdental papillae 15 years after modified Widman flap surgery.

Clinical Evaluation of Periodontal Surgical Treatment With an Er:YAG Laser: 5‐Year Results

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the long-term clinical outcomes of erbium-doped:yttrium, aluminum, and garnet (Er:YAG) laser-assisted periodontal flap surgery versus conventional treatment with the modified Widman flap procedure. A total of 146 single-rooted periodontally involved teeth from 25 patients were included in this study. In each patient, left or right maxillary single-rooted teeth were assigned randomly to one of two groups: group A (Er:YAG laser) and group B (modified Widman flap surgery). Er:YAG laser was used to debride the bone pockets, scale the root surface, and trim the periodontal flap. Recession, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and bleeding on probing (BOP) scores were recorded at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. Both treatments resulted in decreases in PD, PI, GI, and BOP, increases in gingival recession, and gains in CAL. PD reduction in group A versus group B was statistically significant at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months (P < 0.05). Gains in CAL were significantly greater in group A versus group B at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. BOP scores were significantly lower in group A versus group B at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). All other differences between treatment groups were not statistically significant. Surgical treatment of single-rooted teeth with chronic periodontitis using the Er:YAG laser yields greater PD reduction and gains in CAL for up to 3 years compared to conventional Widman flap surgery. The short-term results obtained with both treatments can be maintained over 5 years.

Comparison of gingival blood flow during healing of simplified papilla preservation and modified Widman flap surgery: a clinical trial using laser Doppler flowmetry

This prospective randomized-controlled clinical trial compared the gingival blood flow responses following simplified papilla preservation (test) versus modified Widman flap (control). Twenty contra-lateral upper sites with pocket depth > or = 5 mm after initial treatment in 10 chronic periodontitis patients were randomly assigned to either test or control treatment, using a split-mouth design. Laser Doppler flowmetry recordings were performed pre-operatively, following anaesthesia, immediately post-operatively and on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 15, 30 and 60, at nine selected sites per flap. Significant ischaemia was observed at all sites following anaesthesia and immediately post-operatively. At the mucosal flap basis, a peak hyperaemic response was observed on day 1, which tended to resolve by day 4 at the test sites, but persisted until day 7 at the control sites. The buccal and palatal papillae blood perfusion presented the maximum increase on day 7 in both groups and returned to baseline by day 15. Both surgical modalities yielded significant pocket depth reduction, recession increase and clinical attachment gain. Periodontal access flaps represent an ischaemia-reperfusion flap model. The simplified papilla preservation flap may be associated with faster recovery of the gingival blood flow post-operatively compared with the modified Widman flap.

Antibody-based diagnostic for 'refractory' periodontitis.

About 10-15% of US adults are 'refractory' to therapy for chronic periodontitis. Recently, studies suggest that these patients have elevated lysine decarboxylase activity in the sulcular microbiota. The aim of this study was to determine whether an elevated IgG antibody response to lysine decarboxylase, alone or with antibody to other bacterial antigens and baseline clinical measurements, would predict 'refractory' patients with high accuracy. Chronic periodontitis patients were treated using scaling and root planing (SRP) followed by maintenance SRP and 3-monthly re-examinations. If there was a loss of mean full mouth attachment or more than three sites appeared with > 2.5 mm new loss within a year, the subjects were re-treated (modified Widman flap surgery and systemically administered tetracycline). If attachment loss as above recurred, the subjects were 'refractory'. Baseline clinical measurements and specific antibody responses were used in a logistic regression model to predict 'refractory' subjects. Antibody to a peptide portion of lysine decarboxylase (HKL-Ab) and baseline bleeding on probing (BOP) prevalence measurements predicted attachment loss 3 months after initial therapy [pIAL = loss (0) or gain (1)]. IgG antibody contents to a purified antigen from Actinomyces spp. (A-Ab) and streptococcal d-alanyl glycerol lipoteichoic acid (S-Ab) were related in 'refractory' patients (R2 = 0.37, p < 0.01). From the regression equation, the relationship between the antibodies was defined as linear (pLA/S-Ab = 0) or non-linear pLA/S-Ab = 1). Using pLA/S-Ab, pIAL and age, a logistic regression equation was derived from 48 of the patients. Of 59 subjects, 37 had 2-4 mm attachment loss and were assigned as 'refractory' or successfully treated with 86% accuracy. HKL-Ab facilitated an accurate prediction of therapeutic outcome in subjects with moderate periodontitis.

Clinical and microbiological changes associated with the use of 4 adjunctive systemically administered agents in the treatment of periodontal infections

The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the effects of periodontal surgery and 4 systemically administered agents, Augmentin, tetracycline, ibuprofen or a placebo on clinical and microbiological parameters of periodontal disease. 98 subjects were monitored at 2-month intervals at 6 sites per tooth for clinical parameters. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the mesial surface of each tooth at each visit and evaluated for their content of 14 subgingival species using DNA probes and a colony lift method. 40 subjects who exhibited loss of attachment > 2.5 mm at 1 or more sites during longitudinal monitoring were treated using modified Widman flap surgery at sites with probing pocket depth > 4 mm, subgingival scaling at all other sites and were randomly assigned 1 of the 4 agents. Treatment was completed within 30 days during which time the subject took the assigned agent. Overall, subjects exhibited a mean attachment level "gain" of 0.34 +/- 0.10 mm (SEM) and a mean pocket depth reduction of 0.62 +/- 0.09 mm 10 +/- 4 months post-therapy. However, certain subjects in each treatment group showed a poor response. Subjects receiving antibiotics exhibited significantly more attachment level "gain" (0.57 +/- 0.15 mm, SEM) than subjects receiving either ibuprofen or a placebo (0.02 +/- 0.10). The differences between Augmentin and tetracycline groups were not significant, nor were the differences between ibuprofen and placebo. 10 months post-therapy, there was a reduction in the number of sites colonized in any subject group by detectable levels (10(3)) of P. gingivalis. Species showing similar reductions were B. forsythus, P. intermedia and P. micros. Subjects receiving systemically administered antibiotics had a significant increase in the proportion of sites colonized by C. ochracea coupled with a greater decrease in the number of sites colonized by P. gingivalis, B. forsythus, P. intermedia and P. micros post-therapy than subjects not receiving antibiotics. The results of this investigation indicate that adjunctive systemic antibiotics increase periodontal attachment "gain" and decrease the levels of some suspected periodontal pathogens in subjects with evidence of current disease progression.

Factors associated with different responses to periodontal therapy

In a study of the efficacy of modified Widman flap surgery and scaling and root planning accompanied by 1 of 4 systemic adjunctive agents, Augmentin, tetracycline, ibuprofen or placebo, it was observed that subjects differed in their response to therapy. The difference was only partially accounted for by the adjunctive agent employed. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine clinical and microbiological features in subjects who showed different levels of attachment change post-therapy. 40 subjects were subset into 3 groups based on mean attachment level change post-therapy. 10 poor response subjects showed mean attachment loss; 19 moderate response subjects showed mean attachment gain between 0.02-0.5 mm and 11 good response subjects showed a mean gain of attachment > 0.5 mm. Clinical parameters were measured at 6 sites per tooth both pre- and post-therapy. Microbiological samples were taken from the mesial aspect of each tooth and evaluated individually for their content of 14 subgingival taxa using a colony lift method and DNA probes. % of sites colonized by each species was computed for each subject both pre- and post-therapy. Significant differences were observed among treatment response groups for mean probing pocket depth, attachment level and % of sites with plaque pre-therapy. The poor response subjects had the lowest mean probing pocket depth and attachment level, but the highest plaque levels. Post-therapy, the poor response group exhibited the greatest degree of gingival inflammation as assessed by gingival redness and bleeding on probing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Effect of Post‐Surgical Flap Placement on Probing Depth and Attachment Level: A 2‐Year Longitudinal Study

Postsurgical flap placement might affect the outcome of the operative procedure. Modified Widman flap surgery with primary closure and flap approximation (usually away from the bone crest) and apically positioned flap surgery with near crestal bone positioning are both widely used in surgical periodontal treatment. Several comparative investigations have studied these modalities, however, none have been able to show conclusively that either is superior to the other. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to explore the optimal postsurgical flap placement in respect to final probing depth and changes in clinical attachment level. Following routine hygienic phase of treatment, 12 subjects (186 teeth) with adult periodontitis received surgical periodontal treatment. Prior to the flap surgery, probing depth and clinical attachment level were recorded. Sounding depth measurements were taken to record postoperative flap placement. Patients were placed on a 3-month maintenance program. Probing depth and clinical attachment level were again measured at 2 years postoperatively and compared to baseline measurements. An overall positive correlation (R = 0.43; P = 0.0248) was found between immediate postoperative sounding measurements and probing depth after 2 years. Conversely, attachment level changes over the 2-year period showed only weak inverse correlation (R = 0.27; P = 0.0121) with sounding depth measurement immediately postsurgically. Sites where postoperative sounding depth were < or = 3 mm had a mean probing depth (2.52 mm) which was significantly (P < 0.001) smaller compared to sites with sound depth > or = 4 mm (3.58 mm). Changes in clinical attachment level varied between sites and sounding depth groups; however, none of these differences were statistically significant. Based on our findings it is suggested that following periodontal flap surgery, in those cases where minimal probing depth is desired, the flap be secured to the underlying structures at or slightly coronally to the bone crest (< or = 3 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sounding Depth Measurements: A Method for Evaluating Various Surgical Techniques

Fourteen patients undergoing periodontal treatment for moderate to severe adult-type periodontitis were included in the study. Seven patients (a total of 210 sites) were treated with modified Widman flap surgery while the other 7 patients (the same number of sites) were treated with apically-positioned flap surgery. The 2 modalities were compared using sounding depth measurements before and immediately after surgery. The mean sounding depth decreased from 4.89 mm to 3.42 mm in the modified Widman flap group, compared to a drop from 4.77 mm to 2.46 mm in the apically-positioned flap group. Neither of these procedures resulted in the total eradication of all periodontal pockets. The final outcome of modified Widman flap surgery may, at times, result in zero sounding depth (placement of the flap at the crest of the bone); on the other hand, very often the flap was placed far supra-crestally in an intended apically-positioned flap procedure. This lack of consistency between intended and actual flap placement would suggest that studies which try to compare different treatment modalities using a flap approach should include sounding depth measurements immediately post-surgery. This is needed to assure that the intended procedure has actually been carried out.

Effect of modified Widman flap surgery and systemic tetracycline on the subgingival microbiota of periodontal lesions

33 subjects with evidence of active destructive periodontal disease were treated by modified Widman flap surgery and systemic tetracycline (1 g/day for 21 days). Subgingival plaque samples were taken from 41 sites in 12 of these subjects before and 6 months after therapy for predominant cultivable microbiota studies. Mean pocket depth and attachment levels in the 41 sampled sites were 7.1 +/- 2.9 mm and 7.7 +/- 3.2 mm prior to therapy and 4.8 +/- 2.3 mm and 6.2 +/- 3.4 mm after therapy. B. melaninogenicus and V. parvula were more frequently detected in samples taken after therapy, while S. intermedius, S. morbillorum, S. uberis and W. recta were less frequently detected after therapy. A. actinomycetemcomitans were detected in 7 sites pretherapy and 1 site post therapy. The frequency of detection of B. gingivalis and B. intermedius was virtually unchanged. The mean levels of the Actinomyces sp., A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. gingivalis, B. intermedius, S. morbillorum, S. uberis and W. recta were decreased after therapy, while the mean levels of B. melaninogenicus, S. mitis, S. sanguis II and V. parvula were increased after therapy. V. parvula showed the greatest increase to 8.2% of the microbiota. In the second phase of the study, subgingival plaque samples from 94 sites in the 33 treated subjects were analyzed by predominant cultivable techniques. As a result of therapy, 24 sites exhibited attachment loss greater than 2 mm, 23 sites exhibited "gain" greater than 2 mm and the remaining 47 sites were considered to be unchanging.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Microbiological and clinical effects of surgical treatment of localized juvenile periodontitis

Since Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans appears to be a key etiologic agent in localized juvenile periodontitis, this study determined the effectiveness of different treatment modalities in suppressing A. actinomycetemcomitans in localized juvenile periodontitis lesions. A total of 25 deep periodontal lesions from 7 patients with localized juvenile periodontitis were included in the study. The test periodontal lesions either received scaling and root planing alone, scaling and root planing together with soft tissue curettage, or modified Widman flap surgery. Subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans were enumerated using selective culturing. Clinical measurements included changes in probing periodontal attachment level, probing periodontal pocket depth, gingival index, plaque index, and digital subtraction of standardized serial radiographs. The microbiological and clinical effects of treatment were monitored over a period of 16 weeks. All periodontal lesions studied demonstrated high numbers of A. actinomycetemcomitans prior to treatment. Scaling and root planing alone did not markedly change the subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans counts, nor any of the clinical parameters studied. In contrast, soft tissue curettage as well as modified Widman flap surgery suppressed A. actinomycetemcomitans to undetectable levels immediately after therapy in more than 80% of the lesions studied. A total of 5 periodontal lesions exhibited gain of probing periodontal attachment after subgingival curettage or Widman flap treatment; 3 of these sites revealed no detectable A. actinomycetemcomitans, and the remaining 2 sites harbored only low levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans. 5 periodontal lesions which lost probing attachment after treatment all demonstrated high numbers of subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans. Changes in alveolar bone, assessed by digital subtraction of serial radiographs, correlated with changes in probing periodontal attachment level, confirming the clinical results. The present study revealed a close relationship between post-treatment A. actinomycetemcomitans levels and the clinical response to treatment, which supports the concept that A. actinomycetemcomitans is an important organism in the etiology of localized juvenile periodontitis. This study also showed that a substantial suppression of subgingival A. actinomycetemcomitans cannot be achieved by periodontal scaling and root planing alone, but can be accomplished by surgical removal of periodontal tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Root surface smoothness or roughness in periodontal treatment. A clinical study.

Twelve patients with localized advanced periodontitis were selected for this study. The 18 teeth used were divided into experimental and control groups. In both groups the loss of attachment and pocket depth were measured and modified Widman flap surgery was performed. In the experimental group, after root planing, a number of shallow horizontal grooves were made on the root surface to roughen them. Four months after surgery the same measurements were made. The results indicated that in both groups the pocket reduction and the gain of attachment were statistically significant. The differences between the two groups, as far as pocket reduction and gain of attachment are concerned, were not significant.

Vascular response to modified Widman flap surgery in monkeys.

Revascularization of the periodontal tissues was studied after flap surgery. Modified Widman flap procedures were performed in four young Rhesus monkeys. All premolars and molars were involved. Experimental periods covered from 1 day to 90 days. The animals were sacrificed by exsanguination and perfused through the carotid arteries with a combined solution of equal parts of India ink and 10% buffered formalin solution. After fixation and decalcification, part of the blocks were processed to obtain cleared specimens following the Spalteholtz method. The remaining blocks were processed for routine histologic examination. The findings, mainly from the cleared specimens, showed that 1 day after surgery the supraperiosteal vessels in the flap demonstrated an overt hyperemic response. Patency of the vessels in the periodontal membrane and cancellous bone was evident; however, vessels were not depicted in the exposed cortical bone, nor in the clot. Vascular continuity apical to the surgical detachment was observed. In 3 to 4 days vascular proliferation within the organizing clot was observed and anastomosis between the gingiva and cancellous bone or periodontal membrane started to develop. At 7 days anastomoses were evident and vasodilation was present throughout the tissues. At 15 days and thereafter, vascular organization started to decrease, and the only hyperemic foci remaining were associated with areas of delayed bone remodeling, cementum remodeling or persistent marginal inflammation.

Longitudinal therapeutic effects on the periodontal attachment level and pocketdepth in beagle dogs

Thirteen healthy Beagles, 3 1/2–5 years of age with moderate to advanced periodontal discase received a thorough scaling and prophylasis followed by four weeks of daily tooth cleaning. After one month, each of the fourposterior quadrants of each dog was subjected to one of the following treatments: 1) subgingival curettage, 2) modified Widman flap surgery with root planing, 3) apically repositioned flap and bone surgery for pocket elimination and 4) scaling and root planing as a control. Toothbrushings was carried out daily. In addition, every 14 days the dogs received a rubber cup and pumice prophylaxis throughout the entire length of the study. At the baseline, 1, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months following treatment, oral hygiene and gingival health were scored and the level of periodontal attachment and pocket depth were measured. The results at one Month suggested an increase in attachment levels which was grater after scaling or subgingival curettage than after flap procedures. Up to 36 months, the established attachment levels were maintained for all treatment groups and no significant difference was found between any of the treatments and the scaled controls. However, in advanced periodontal lesion attachment levels were not maintaned with scaling alone.The present study has shown that the more conservative approaches to the treatment of periodontal disease such as subgingival curettage and Widman flap surgery may be as effective in maintaining clincal attachment levels as elaborate surgical procedures involving osteoectomy.