Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and compare the height of the interdental papilla before and after periodontal flap surgery for pocket reduction using “Papilla Preservation Technique” in subjects with chronic periodontitis with horizontal bone loss.
Method: 10 subjects with generalized chronic periodontitis were included in the study. 20 sites from the maxillary anterior sextant were selected. Probing depth was recorded using a customized acrylic stent; changes in alveolar bone level and height of the interdental papilla were recorded noninvasively using an intraoral radiographic technique at baseline and six weeks after papilla preservation flap surgery.
Results: There was reduction of 3.02mm in probing depth, 0.53mm in alveolar bone level and 2.18 mm in height of the interdental papilla following papilla preservation flap surgery.
Conclusion: Interdental papilla heals without the formation of interdental clefts or craters following the papilla preservation flap technique, thus maintaining a good postoperative gingival contour. However, some loss of papillary height is evident.
