Critical Decisions in Periodontology

CRITICAL DECISIONS
IN PERIODONTOLOGY
WALTER B. HALL, BA, DDS, MSD

Professor Emeritus
Department of Periodontics
University of the Pacific School of Dentistry
San Francisco, California
4th Edition
2003
BC Decker Inc
Hamilton London
with 250 illustrations
BC Decker Inc
P.O. Box 620, L.C.D. 1
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7
Tel: 905-522-7017; 800-568-7281
Fax: 905-522-7839; 888-311-4987
E-mail: info@bcdecker.com
http://www.bcdecker.com
2003 BC Decker Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by an means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the
publisher.
02 03 04 05/GSA/9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 1-55009-184-0
Printed in Spain
SALES AND DISTRIBUTION

Singapore, Malaysia,Thailand,
Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam,
Pacific Rim, Korea
Elsevier Science Asia
583 Orchard Road
#09/01, Forum
Singapore 238884
Tel: 65-737-3593
Fax: 65-753-2145
United States
BC Decker Inc
P.O. Box 785
Lewiston, NY 14092-0785
Tel: 905-522-7017; 800-568-7281
Fax: 905-522-7839; 888-311-4987
Canada
BC Decker Inc
20 Hughson Street South
P.O. Box 620, LCD 1
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7
Tel: 905-522-7017; 800-568-7281
Fax: 905-522-7839; 888-311-4987
Australia, New Zealand

Elsevier Science Australia
Customer Service Department
STM Division
Locked Bag 16
St. Peters, New South Wales, 2044
Australia
Tel: 61 02 9517-8999
Fax: 61 02 9517-2249
E-mail: stmp@harcourt.com.au
http://www.harcourt.com.au
Foreign Rights
John Scott & Company
International Publishers' Agency
P.O. Box 878
Kimberton, PA 19442
Tel: 610-827-1640
Fax: 610-827-1671
E-mail: jsco@voicenet.com
Mexico and Central America

ETM SA de CV
Calle de Tula 59
Colonia Condesa
06140 Mexico DF, Mexico
Tel: 52-5-5553-6657
Fax: 52-5-5211-8468
E-mail:
editoresdetextosmex@prodigy.net.mx
Japan
Igaku-Shoin Ltd.
Foreign Publications Department
3-24-17 Hongo
Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 113-8719
Tel: 3 3817 5680
Fax: 3 3815 6776
E-mail: fd@igaku-shoin.co.jp
Argentina
CLM (Cuspide Libros Medicos)
Av. Crdoba 2067 - (1120)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel: (5411) 4961-0042/(5411) 49640848
Fax: (5411) 4963-7988
E-mail: clm@cuspide.com
U.K., Europe, Scandinavia, Middle

East
Elsevier Science
Customer Service Department
Foots Cray High Street
Sidcup, Kent
DA14 5HP, UK
Tel: 44 (0) 208 308 5760
Fax: 44 (0) 181 308 5702
E-mail: cservice@harcourt.com
Brazil
Tecmedd
Av. Maurilio Biagi, 2850
City Ribeiro Preto - SP - CEP: 14021000
Tel: 0800 992236
Fax: (16) 3993-9000
E-mail: tecmedd@tecmedd.com.br
NOTICE
The authors and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the patient care
recommended herein, including choice of drugs and drug dosages, is in accord with
the accepted standard and practice at the time of publication. However, since research
and regulation constantly change clinical standards, the reader is urged to check the
product information sheet included in the package of each drug, which includes
recommended doses, warnings, and contraindications. This is particularly important
with new or infrequently used drugs. Any treatment regimen, particularly one
involving medication, involves inherent risk that must be weighed on a case-by-case
basis against the benefits anticipated. The reader is cautioned that the purpose of this
book is to inform and enlighten; the information contained herein is not intended as,
and should not be employed as, a substitute for individual diagnosis and treatment.
DEDICATION
To my wife, Frencella, and my sons, Scott and Gregory,

for their love, support, and understanding during the
preparation of this text
CONTENTS
Preface, vii
Contributors, ix
Introduction, 1
PART 1 History Taking
PART 2 Laboratory Tests
PART 3 Indications for Collecting and Recording Data
PART 4 Signs and Symptoms
PART 5 Detecting and Recording Findings
PART 6 Differential Diagnosis
PART 7 Prognosis
PART 8 Treatment Planning and Treatment
PART 9 Initial Therapy Evaluation
PART 10 Guided Tissue Regeneration
PART 11 Surgical Treatment
PART 12 Decision Making in Postsurgical Reevaluations
PART 13 Osseointegrated Implants
PART 14 Esthetics in Periodontics
PART 15 Miscellaneous Issues, Problems, and Treatments
PREFACE
Earlier editions of this book, which were titled Decision Making in Periodontology,
illustrated the thought processes used in determining optimal therapy for individual
patients as conceived by various experts of the field. This fourth edition takes learning
a step farther by providing readers with the means to use the knowledge they have
already acquired in the practice of periodontics. Renamed Critical Decisions in
Periodontology, this fourth edition describes common clinical problems and how
practitioners go about deciding what should be done. The approach offers an
algorithm (decision tree) for solving each clinical problem as it may be experienced in
practice. Chapters describe common clinical problems and, guided by the thinking of
experts, allow the reader to arrive at decisions that would take much longer to
contrive if guided only by classical teaching texts. Several commonly available
additional readings are provided for further details.
This updated and enhanced text should continue to serve the needs of several groups
in the fields of dental care. Experienced clinicians may seek answers to specific
problems and compare their methods with those outlined. Teachers of periodontology
may use this text as a stimulus to rethink modes of presenting information and as a
model to test whether students have grasped the concepts they have been taught and
are able to use them in a practical manner. Undergraduate students will find this
material useful in integrating concepts that they have been taught in a more
conventional way, and postgraduate students may argue the merits of the decisionmaking process as outlined and rewrite the decision trees. Auxiliary personnel will
find the material helpful in understanding why specific things happen in certain ways
within the dental office. In the rapidly progressing and contentious field of
periodontology, some of the decision making presented by our international group of
authors may be controversial; however, if the decision trees presented here stimulate
thought and discussion, the book will have fulfilled its purpose.
Many thanks to Brian Decker who conceived the idea of books that help dental care
providers use their knowledge to make decisions in dental care, and to Charmaine
Sherlock and Paula Presutti, who edited this text. Thanks also to all of those talented
individuals who contributed chapters. Special thanks to Dr. Eric Curtis, who provided
the illustrations, and to my family, Fran, Scott, and Greg, for their encouragement
during the preparation of this book.
Walter B. Hall
October 2002
CONTRIBUTORS
Gretchen J. Bruce, DDS, MBA
Assistant Professor of Periodontics
University of the Pacific School of
Dentistry
Donald F. Adams, DDS, MS

Professor and Director Emeritus
Department of Periodontology
School of Dentistry
Oregon Health Sciences University
Portland, Oregon
Francesco Cairo, DDS

Research Fellow of Periodontology
Dental School, University of Florence
Florence, Italy
Edward P. Allen, DDS, PhD

Baylor College of Dentistry
Dallas, Texas
Paulo M. Camargo, DDS, MS

UCLA School of Dentistry
Los Angeles, California
Tamer Alpagot, DDS, PhD

Associate Professor of Periodontics
Dentistry
Jordi Cambra, MD, DDS, ME

Private Practice
Periodontics
Barcelona, Spain
Tiziano Baccetti, DDS

Department of Orthodontics
University of Florence
Florence, Italy
Miguel Carasol, MD, DDS

Professor of Periodontology
European University School of
Dentistry
Madrid, Spain
Roberto Barone, DDS

Private Practice
Florence, Italy
Carlo Clauser, MD
Private Practice
Florence, Italy
Antonio Bascones, MD, DDS, PhD

Professor of Periodontics, Oral
Medicine, and Surgery
School of Dentistry
Universidad Complutense
Madrid, Spain
Pierpaolo Cortellini, MD
Eastman Dental Institute
University College of London
London, United Kingdom
Carrie Berkovich, DDS, MS

Dentistry
Mithridade Davarpanah, MD, DMD

Clinical Assistant Professor of
Periodontology
University of Paris
Paris, France
Burton E. Becker, DDS

Professor of Stomatology,
Periodontics, Graduate Periodontics
University of Texas
Houston, Texas
Daniel Etienne, DCD, MS

Associate Professor of Periodontology
University of Paris
Paris, France
William Becker, DDS, MSD

Private Practice
Periodontics
Tuscon, Arizona
Lavin Flores-de-Jacoby, DDS

Professor
Phillipps-Universitat
Marburg, Germany
Brian J. Kenyon, BA, DMD

Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine
Dentistry
Craig Gainza, DDS, MSD

Private Practice
Periodontics
Vallejo, California
Perry R. Klokkevold, DDS, MS

Associate Professor and Clinical
Director of Periodontics
James Garibaldi, DDS, MA

Associate Professor of Oral Surgery
Dentistry
John Y. Kwan, DDS

Private Practice
Periodontics
Oakland, California
Eugene E. LaBarre, BA, DMD, MS
Associate Professor and Chair of
Removable Prosthodontics
Dentistry
Timothy F. Geraci, DDS, MSD

Private Practice
Periodontics
Oakland, California
William Grippo, DDS
Private Practice
Periodontics
Napa, California
Alan S. Leider, DDS, MA

Professor Emeritus of Pathology
Department of Diagnostic Sciences
Dentistry
Walter B. Hall, DDS, MSD

Professor Emeritus of Periodontics
Dentistry
Casimir Leknius, DDS, MBA

Associate Professor of Restorative
Dentistry
Dentistry
Lisa A. Harpenau, DDS, MS, MBA

Dentistry
Vojislav Lekovic, DDS, PhD

Professor of Periodontics and Dean
University of Belgrade
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Stephen K. Harrel, DDS

Private Practice
Periodontics
Dallas, Texas
Joseph Levy, BA, MS, PhD

Professor and Chair of Physiology and
Pharmacology
Dentistry
Luther H. Hutchens Jr, DDS, MSD

Professor Emeritus of Periodontics
School of Dentistry
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
10
Michael G. Newman, BA, DDS

Professor of Periodontics
Larry G. Loos, DDS

Professor and Chair of Restorative
Dentistry
Dentistry
Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, MD, DDS

Professor and Chair of Periodontology
Florence, Italy
William P. Lundergan, DDS, MA

Professor and Chair
Department of Periodontics of the
Pacific School of Dentistry
Mauricio Ronderos, DDS, MS, MPH

Dentistry
Benjamin J. Mandel, DDS

Chair and Founder
Santa Clara Periodontics Study Club
Tiburon, California
Roberto Rotundo, DDS

Research Fellow in Periodontics
Dentistry
Alex R. McDonald, DDS, PhD

Associate Professor of Oral Surgery
Dentistry
Randal W. Rowland, DMD, MS

Professor of Clinical Periodontology
Director Postgraduate Periodontology
University of California
Reiner Mengel, DDS

Phillipps-Universitat Marburg
Marburg, Germany
Richard S. Rudin, DDS

Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine
Dentistry
Scott W. Milliken, DDS, MS

Dentistry
Francisco Martos Molino, MD, DDS
School of Dentistry
Madrid, Spain
Mariano Sanz, MD, DDS

Professor and Chair of Periodontology
University of Madrid School of
Dentistry
Madrid, Spain
Kathy I. Mueller, MS, DMD

Assistant Professor of Fixed
Prosthodontics
Dentistry
Thomas Schiff, MD, DDS

Professor and Chair of Dental
Radiology
Dentistry
Leonardo Muzzi, DDS

Research Fellow in Periodontology
Florence, Italy
Alberto Sicillia, MD, DDS

School of Stomatology
University of Oviedo
Oviedo, Spain
11
E. Robert Stultz Jr, DMD, MS

Adjunct Professor of Periodontics
Dentistry
Vicki Vlaskalic, BDS, MDSc

Assistant Professor of Orthodontics
Dentistry
Charles F. Sumner III, DDS, JD

Dentistry
Galen W. Wagnild, DDS

Associate Clinical Professor of
Restorative Dentistry
University of California School of
Dentistry
Maurizio Tonetti, DDS, MS

University of Bern School of Dentistry
Bern, Switzerland
Borja Zabelegui, MD, DDS

Professor Titular
Estomatologia
Universidad Pais Vasco
Bilbao, Spain
Steven A. Tsurudome, DDS, MS

Dentistry
Jon Zabelegui, MD, DDS

Visiting Professor in Postgraduate
Periodontology
Madrid, Spain
Gonzalo Hernndez Vallejo, MD,

DDS, PhD
Professor of Periodontics, Oral
Medicine, and Surgery
School of Dentistry
Madrid, Spain
Mark Zablotsky, DDS

Adjunct Assistant Professor of
Periodontics
Dentistry
Ian Van Zyl, DDS, MS

Assistant Professor of Restorative
Dentistry
Dentistry
Giliana Zuccati, MD
Private Practice
Florence, Italy
12
INTRODUCTION
Each two-page chapter in this text consists of an algorithm or decision tree, which
usually appears on the right-hand page, and a brief explanatory text with illustrations
and additional readings, which begin on the left-hand page. The decision tree is the
focus of each chapter and should be studied first in detail. The letters on the decision
tree refer the reader to the text, which provides a brief explanation of the basis for
each decision. Boxes have been used on the decision tree to indicate invasive
procedures or the use of drugs. A combination of line drawings and halftones were
selected to clarify the text. Cross-references have been inserted to avoid repeating
information given in other chapters. Additional readings that are likely to be readily
available to the practitioner have been selected.
Chapters have been grouped by general concepts in the order that follows the typical
sequence of therapy in periodontal practice. An index is included to guide the reader
further in locating specific information.
The decisions outlined here relate to typical situations. Unusual cases may require the
clinician to consider alternatives; however, in every case, the clinician must consider
all aspects of an individual patients data. The algorithms presented here are not meant
to represent a rigid guideline for thinking but rather a skeleton to be fleshed out by
additional factors in each individual patients case.
17
PART 1
HISTORY TAKING
1 Medical History
Walter B. Hall
2 Laboratory Tests and Their Significance
Richard S. Rudin
3 Dental History
Walter B. Hall
4 Plaque-Control History
Walter B. Hall
18
Medical History
Walter B. Hall
Before examining a new patient, the dentist should take a medical history. At each subsequent visit, a simple question such as
How have you been since I saw you last? may elicit an important response, such as I found out Im pregnant, which the
patient might consider unimportant to her dental treatment. At
recall visits, before any dental examination, the dentist should
question the patient more extensively regarding visits to a
physician, any illnesses, and any changes in medication. In the
treatment record the dentist should indicate the medical history
was updated by noting, No changes in medical history, or by
recording specific changes that have occurred. The medicolegal
importance of such notations cannot be overemphasized.
A
A health questionnaire (yes or no format) is useful in

making the patient responsible for the accuracy of the
medical history. The patient may complete such a questionnaire while waiting to see the dentist. Usually, questions are grouped according to systems. The dentist uses
this form as a guideline in questioning the patient further
about positive answers and writes additional information
in the chart.
The new patients age is important in developing a treatment plan and as a guide to certain age-related diseases.
Note the date and findings of the patients last physical
examination. List the names and addresses of any physicians treating the patient, as well as medications the patient
is currently taking and reasons for their use. Refer to
important medications in an easily seen place, or use colored stickers to indicate these medications in a standard
area on the chart.
Note heart attacks, rheumatic heart disease, heart surgery,
and replacement parts in the heart so that precautions such
as antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with rheumatic heart
disease or artificial valves can be taken. The patient may
even require medication before periodontal probing. Many
patients are aware of blood pressure abnormalities, but others are not. Many dentists obtain a baseline blood pressure
reading at this time.
Diabetes is a major problem in successful management of
periodontal diseases. For a known diabetic, determine
whether (1) the disease is controlled and (2) the patient has
visited a physician within the past 3 to 6 months. If the
patient is unaware of having diabetes, questions regarding
a personal history of periodontal abscesses and blood relatives with diabetes may suggest a problem requiring medical evaluation.
Infectious diseases such as hepatitis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and tuberculosis (TB) should
be included in the questionnaire. Establish whether a
patient who has had hepatitis B is a carrier. Encourage the
patient to be tested, for family safety if for no other reason. (The test is simple and inexpensive.) HIV+ often has
an associated periodontal problem (see Chapters 32 and
33). Questioning regarding this disease must be managed
discreetly. TB is uncommon among native-born Americans but quite prevalent among recent immigrants and
increasingly common among patients in general.
Hepatitis (see E) and cirrhosis are common problems that

affect dental care. Cirrhosis may impair a patients healing potential. Recurrent kidney infections may require
antibiotic prophylaxis before periodontal treatment.
Patients with seizure disorders may require additional medication before periodontal treatment. Those taking diphenylhydantoin sodium (Dilantin) often develop a hyperplastic
gingival response (see Chapter 29).
Asthma can complicate periodontal treatment, especially

when anesthetics containing epinephrine are used. Sinusitis can complicate the differential diagnosis of periodontal
pain in the maxillary posterior area.
Avoid nonemergency periodontal treatment of any complexity throughout pregnancy but especially in the first and
third trimesters. Pregnancy can modify gingivitis. Such
pregnancy gingivitis often does not respond to treatment
until several months after gestation.
Gastric or duodenal ulcers may complicate periodontal

healing because of dietary restrictions. Gingival changes
may accompany colitis.
Various types of cancer present complications in periodontal treatment. Leukemia may be accompanied by gingival
enlargement. The prognosis for the more severe or
advanced types of cancer can force modification of usual
treatment plans. Radiation therapy may make surgical
treatment inadvisable. The treating physician should be
contacted if chemotherapy is being used or has been used
recently.
Many medicaments and drugs used in periodontal treatment are significant allergens that may have to be avoided
with sensitized patients.
Patient for PERIODONTAL EXAMINATION
New patient
R Recall
patient
A Questionnaire
Update history:
New medical
problems
Status of previously
reported problems
Changes in medication
Visits to physician
B Determine history:
Age
Physicians name
and address
Latest physical
examination
and findings
Medications
Assess:
Blood pressure
Heart disease
Respiratory
problems
M Dermatologic
Diabetes
(controlled?)
Pregnancy
Arthritis
Gastrointestinal
problems
O Physical
Some dermatologic diseases, such as lichen planus, pemphigus, and pemphigoid, have periodontal components.
Some types of arthritis can restrict dexterity required for

plaque removal. Corticosteroid therapy often delays healing after periodontal treatment.
Physical or medical disabilities may help explain the etiology of inflammatory periodontal disease if the patient is
unable to perform adequate oral hygiene procedures. Disabilities may also influence the prognosis and treatment
planning.
Heavy smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or drug use

influence the periodontal diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. Vigorous tooth brushing, especially with a
hard brush, may explain root exposure. Self-mutilating
habits may alter gingival appearance.
Liver or
kidney
disease
Cancer
(prognosis,
radiation)
Habits
G Seizure
disorders
Allergies
Q Medications
or mental
disabilities
diseases
Infectious
diseases
(hepatitis,
HIV + , TB)
Medications used for the treatment or management of any

medical problem may affect periodontal treatment. Some
medications, such as -blockers, may require changes in
anesthetics. Others, such as antibiotics, may produce temporary improvements in periodontitis. A dentist must have
a recent edition of the Physicians Desk Reference or a similar
reference to determine possible effects of new medications
on the treatment plan.
Update the medical history of a recall or continuing patient

at every visit. New medical problems, altered status of previously diagnosed medical problems, and changes in medications can affect periodontal treatment.
Additional Readings
Carranza FA Jr, Newman MG. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 344.
Genco RJ, Goldman HM, Cohen DW. Contemporary periodontics. St.
Louis: Mosby; 1990. p. 203.
Laboratory Tests and Their Significance

Richard S. Rudin
The patient initiates the examination process by completing

a health questionnaire. This provides the basis for the dentist to initiate taking a health history.
A complete and thorough health history is the most valuable source of necessary patient care information. Clinic
laboratory testing is often a useful adjunct in the diagnosis
and treatment process and must be considered a supplement to a complete history and physical examination.
Occasionally, laboratory testing is necessary to confirm a
diagnosis or uncover findings separate from the chief complaint.
The ordering of laboratory tests falls within the scope of
practice of licensed general dentists and specialists. Many dentists fail to make use of this area of health analysis because of
lack of training. Depending on the background and experience of the treating dentist, the patient will be referred either
to a clinic laboratory or a physician for appropriate testing.
A large number of tests from body fluids and venous
blood samples are of use to the practicing physician, and a
limited number are of interest to the dentist. A positive
answer or suggestive family history on a health questionnaire in conjunction with an oral examination may lead the
practitioner to assess further for any of the following:
Cardiovascular diseaseThe periodontist may request

results of an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, a Holter
monitor, or any study evaluating cardiac function, especially to rule out a valvular problem, for which antibiotic
prophylaxis may be needed. Analysis of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) or serum enzyme level is rarely ordered or
used by dentists. CPK is the first enzyme level to rise in suspected myocardial infarction (MI). Release of CPK indicates
tissue damage.
Endocrine disease (diabetes)Patients at high risk should

be screened for their family history. Evaluate patients with
a history of recurrent oral infection; periodontal disease in
excess of observed local factors; or symptomatic polyuria,
polydipsia, and polyphagia. An evaluation of the patients
level of control should include the following:
Fasting blood sugar
Clinitest tablets
Clinistix strips
Infectious disease including acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis, and tuberculosis (TB)It may
be important to determine the infectivity of a patient with
a positive history of hepatitis. Tests for core and antigen are
relatively easy and inexpensive. Vaccination for hepatitis B
has significantly decreased the risk for dental personnel, but
it does not provide lifelong immunity. An antibody titer to the
virus may be advisable. A test for bilirubin, which is responsible for the clinical manifestation of jaundice, is rarely used
or ordered by dentists.
Numerous oral and periodontal findings are associated
with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. If signs
are discovered, the condition must be handled with confidentiality and sensitivity. Direct access to comprehensive
medical care is required. Be prepared to refer the patient if
an initial diagnosis is expected. If invasive procedures are
planned, values including a CD4/CD8 platelet count, hemoglobin (Hgb), and hematocrit (HCT) should be obtained and
must be relatively recent (within the past 3 months). Medical clearance is essential, and an antibiotic prophylaxis may
be necessary. If an HIV test is ordered, written consent is
necessary. If the treating periodontist orders the test (ELISA
or Western blot), referral is necessary.
F
Liver and kidney diseaseDentists rarely use or order

serum enzyme levels to determine the presence of liver and
kidney disease. From the dentists perspective, the major
importance of these values is for assessing a patients status
after hepatitis or other hepatic disease. Serum enzymes
include the following:
Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminaseassociated with
liver injury
Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminaseincreased by
cell death in the liver, brain, or heart
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)nonspecific
LDH1associated with MI
LDH5associated with liver damage and cell necrosis
Blood tests for renal function are rarely ordered. They include
creatinine, which is increased in renal failure, and blood
urea nitrogen, which is associated with changes in plasma
volume.
CancerA complete blood count is useful and inexpensive.

It measures the HCT, which is based on Hgb and a platelet
white blood count, important initially in some conditions.
HCT increases in infection, inflammation, leukemia, and
tissue destruction and decreases in aplastic anemia, drug
toxicity, and viral infections. A differential white blood cell
count determines the percentage of each kind of the following white blood cell types.
Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes
Increase: infection, inflammation
Decrease: aplastic anemia, cycle neutropenia, druginduced myelosuppression
Lymphocytes
T cellsCD4/CD8 subpopulations
B cells
Monocytes
Important in subacute bacterial endocarditis TB,
mononucleosis
Eosinophils
Increase in allergies, scarlet fever, hemolytic malignant
diseaseleukemia, Hodgkins disease
HabitsThe dentist rarely uses urinalysis or venous samples to detect the presence of drugs. A biopsy specimen can
be considered a laboratory test and may be ordered or performed for a variety of oral lesions.
Determine: Is patient new or of record?
A Health questionnaire
Recall patient
Notation of new medical problems
Status review of previously
diagnosed problems
Visits to physician
Medication change
B Determination of history
Review of findings
Medications
Periodontist consults with

patients physician; request
made for laboratory values
if available; dentist requests
physician to order specific
laboratory test
Treating periodontist notes finding for which

laboratory evaluation may be appropriate
Treating dentist writes

prescription for specific
laboratory tests to
independent laboratory
or pathology department
of hospital
Treating periodontist examines patient and

notes oral conditions for which laboratory
evaluations may be appropriate
Radiographs taken and reviewed
Treating periodontist notes osseous findings for which
there may be alteration in patients blood chemistry
Treating periodontist reviews findings

Dentist modifies treatment plan if necessary
Dentist coordinates treatment with patients physician if appropriate
C Cardiovascular
disease
D Endocrine
disease
Infectious
disease
Seizure disorder
Respiratory disease
Pregnancy
G Cancer (prognosis
Allergies
Skin problems
Liver and
kidney disease
Gastrointestinal disease
Arthritis
and radiation)
Physical and mental

disabilities
H Habits
Medications
(social/history)
MedicationsMedications may alter a patients hematologic

profile. Drugs may significantly alter the bleeding profile.
Several tests are used to screen patients for potential
bleeding disorders or measure current parameters if the
patient is receiving anticoagulant medication. Bleeding
problems can be caused by a decrease in the platelet count,
abnormal function, or defects in the extrinsic, intrinsic, or
common clotting pathways. Tests include the following:
Platelet count
Prothrombin time (PT)
Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
PT is prolonged by anticoagulant therapy, aspirin, and deficiencies in factors I, II, V, VII, and X, as well as liver damage.
PTT is prolonged in anticoagulant therapy with heparin and
defects in the common and intrinsic pathways. Consultation
with the treating physician is needed if the patient is receiving Coumadin, the international normalized ratio is
unknown, and surgical procedures are planned.
Test for Disturbances of Bone

Periodontal (clinical) or radiographic findings may lead the
dentist to order tests for serum calcium, phosphorus, or alkaline phosphatase. These tests may help in the diagnosis of the
following:
Pagets disease of bone
Metastatic disease of bone
Hypoparathyroidism and hyperparathyroidism
Additional Readings
Jolly D. Interpreting the clinical laboratory. J Can Dent Assoc 1995;
23:32.
Sonis ST, Fazio RC, Fang L. Principles and practice of oral medicine. 2nd
ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1995. p. 17.
Dental History
Walter B. Hall
Taking and recording a dental history is an often-neglected but

extremely important aspect of examination, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. Because many patients are treated
by more than one dentist, this history should be updated regularly. The accuracy and reliability of facts from the dental history
are always open to question. The patients own answers, however, are important to record, because any inaccuracies may
influence treatment. If the facts are not consistent with what
is seen in the mouth or on radiographs or with the dentists
knowledge of periodontal problems and their treatment, more
extensive questioning may be necessary.
A
A questionnaire (yes or no format) is useful for gathering data. The patient can complete such a questionnaire
while waiting to see the dentist. Provide space on the questionnaire for a new patient to indicate the date of the last
dental visit and its purpose, the former dentist and reason
for changing, and whether radiographs or other materials
are available.
Further questioning by the dentist is necessary to determine details such as the reason a certain procedure was
done, the location in the mouth, and the time. Space
should be available for such annotation in the chart.
The patient should note which teeth are missing, and the
dentist should ask when they were removed (or if they
never appeared) and why.
The patient may know that the third molars were extracted or
are impacted. The dentist should ask about postsurgical problems if the molars were extracted, including when the surgery
was done. If the molars are present, the dentist should ask
whether the patient has ever been told they should be
removed, and if so, the reason surgery was not performed.
The dentist should ask about any symptoms (such as pain or
swelling) that the patient has had in those areas.
By asking a general question about other surgery, the dentist

may learn about previous fractures of the jaw or oral tumors
that have been removed. The dentist must use follow-up
questions for details.
The dentist should ask about restorations such as crowns,

bridges, removable prostheses, and implants. If any are present, the dentist should ask the reason they were placed,
when they were placed and by whom, and whether earlier
restorations preceded them. A patients knowledge of these
events is likely to be unimpressive.
The dentist should ask whether the patient has any
endodontically treated teeth. If so, ask when they were
treated and, in cases of atypical or inadequate root canal
treatments, where they were done. If endodontically

treated teeth are indicated, ask about other treatments (eg,
apicoectomies and root amputations).
H
The dentist should ask whether the patient has had regular
prophylaxes. If so, the dentist should ask when the last one
was done and by whom, and the frequency of cleanings.
The dentist should ask whether the patient has had bite
problems or jaw pain. If so, a detailed history of the problems, their diagnoses, treatments, and the dates of these
events should be annotated.
The dentist should ask whether the patient has had any
orthodontic treatment. If so, the dentist should record its
nature, times of treatment, extractions, the patients satisfaction with the outcome, and any relapse.
The dentist should ask about clenching and grinding

(ie, bruxism, night grinding), record the patients concept of
the problem, and note whether the problem can be related
to particular life or dental events. Prior use of a night guard
should be noted.
For a periodontal patient, the periodontal history is most

important. An essential question is whether the patient has
had a previous periodontal problem diagnosed. If not, questions regarding bleeding, swollen gingiva, pain, or gingival
ulcerations may reveal that periodontal problems have
existed. If a previous diagnosis was made, annotate the
types of treatment and their times. If no previous treatment
occurred but was suggested, ascertain the reason no treatment was performed. If previous treatment was performed,
determine whether there were acute problems such as
necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) or necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP), human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) gingivitis or periodontitis, or a periodontal abscess.
Also, establish when and how they were treated.
A recall periodontal patient may have had dental problems

or treatment by other dentists since the last visit. Update the
dental history; specifically ask whether any problems have
occurred, the response to earlier treatment, oral hygiene
measures used, and dental treatment performed elsewhere.
Additional Readings
Wlison TG, Kornman KS. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago:
Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 206, 305.
New patient
History:
Latest dental visit and treatment
Former dentists
Availability of radiographs
Missing
teeth
When lost
and why
Recall patient
Update history:
Work done since last visit
Symptoms
Results of earlier work
Oral hygiene done
Record:
Details
Third
molars
Extractions
Impactions
Problems
Other
surgery
Details
Restorations
and implants
G Endodontics
H Prophylaxes
When and
why
When and
why
Most recent one

Frequency
Any endodontic
surgery
Temporomandibular joint
and occlusal problems
When and how treated

Grinding or guards
Orthodontics
When and
why
Habits
Periodontal history
Clenching
Grinding
Bruxism
Results
Treatment
Previous diagnosis
Previous
treatment
Acute problems
(NUG, abscesses,
NUP, HIV-related)
Extractions
Surgery
Occlusal
When and
where
When and
where
When and
where
No previous
treatment
No previous
diagnosis
Ask about
history of
signs and
symptoms
Why not
treated
Plaque-Control History
Walter B. Hall
A history of plaque control is important to establish during the

examination of a new or recall patient. What the patient is
doing, has done, or has been advised to do to control plaque
accumulation can explain the current status of plaque control at
the time of the examination. The dentist can also collect data of
a subjective nature. The way patients respond to questions
regarding plaque-control efforts may be as important to helping
them as the answers themselves. If the tone of the answers is
negative, the dentist must expend a greater effort or find a new
approach to sensitizing the patient to the need for personal
effort. If the patient cannot be motivated or is unable to perform
adequate plaque control, the dentists responsibilities become
greater and more frequent visits will be necessary. The patient
should be made aware that the cost in money, time, and discomfort will be greater; this may help motivate the patient.
A
For a new patient, a history of plaque control regarding past

and current practices is required. Past practices, such as
using a hard or medium brush with a scrub stroke, may be
the reason recession is present. Relating past brushing to
current techniques may indicate when recession occurred
and whether it is stable or ongoing. These are important
factors in deciding whether gingival grafting is needed. It is
important to ascertain how long the patient has been flossing, the way the floss is used, and what the patient is trying
to accomplish. Improper use of floss with a shoe-shining
motion may explain the origin of floss cuts. If adjuncts such
as water spray or irrigation devices, interproximal brushes,
wooden interproximal sticks, toothpicks, or a Perio Aide
have been used, note the manner of their use and the
patients understanding of their rationale. Damage relating
to the misuse of such devices also may be suggested. Note
the reasons for discontinuing the use of a device.
Document the patients current practices in regard to
brushing, flossing, and use of adjunctive devices. Note the
adequacy of the approaches as satisfactory or needing changes
in regard to what is being used and how. If the patient is
doing something different than instructed, note and
explain this action. At the initial examination, compare the

results of what is being done and explore discrepancies.
Record a plaque index at that time.
B
For a recall patient, ask the person to demonstrate, at least

by motions, the current practices. If the patient has stopped
using all recommended devices or has changed the methods
of their use, the reason for doing so should be explained and
the degree of success with the revised approach should be
evaluated. Occasionally, a patient may devise a better means
of using a device than the method taught. If not harmful, it
may be advisable to allow the patient to continue using the
new approach. When the examination is performed, the
stated practices can be compared with results and discrepancies explored. Record a plaque index at this time as well.
If a patients plaque-control program needs to be changed,

an electric brush may be helpful for physically impaired
individuals. A sonic brush may be especially useful for
those individuals. It cleans even beyond the contacts of bristle tips; therefore it is preferable to a hand or electric brush
for patients who are missing interproximal areas. For
patients whose flossing is inadequate, a change to an
adjunctive device often works wonders. Where they fit
between teeth or roots, interproximal brushes are best. If
spaces are too narrow, various sticks can be an excellent
alternative.
Additional Readings
Schluger S, Yuodelis R, Page RC. Periodontal diseases: basic phenomena,
clinical management, and occlusal and restorative interrelationships. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1990. p. 349.
Wilson TG, Kornman KS. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago:
Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 350, 353, 3712.
A New patient
B Recall patient
Assess: Plaque-control practices
Current practices
Past practices
Brushing:
Type of brush
Method
Frequency
Determine:
Whether harder
brush caused
recession
Flossing:
When started
Method
How taught
Frequency
Establish:
Relationship
to floss cuts
Adjunctive devices:
Type used
Where and why
Duration of use
If stopped,
establish reason
Brushing:
Type of brush
Method
Frequency
Who taught
Current practices
Flossing:
Method
Frequency
If stopped,
establish
reason
Adjunctive devices:
Type used
Method
Frequency
If stopped,
establish reason
Assess:
Damage
from misuse
Record:
Plaque index
Assess:
Adequacy of practice
Satisfactory
C Needs change
Consider options
Electric brush
(for physically
disabled persons)
Change in
brushing
Change to
adjunctive
devices for
poor flossers
Sonic brush
(for patients
who miss areas
between
exposed roots)
Interproximal
brushes
Interproximal
sticks
PART 2
LABORATORY TESTS
5 When to Use Microbial Tests for Specific Periodontal Pathogens in Diagnosis and
Treatment Planning
Mariano Sanz and Michael G. Newman
PART 2 Laboratory Tests
When to Use Microbial Tests for Specific Periodontal Pathogens

in Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
Mariano Sanz and Michael G. Newman
The etiologic role of specific bacteria in destructive periodontal

diseases is established. Although many microorganisms found in
deep periodontal pockets are part of the resident oral flora, a
limited number of bacterial species are considered etiologically
relevant. These fulfill the following criteria: There is an association between the pathogen and presence of disease. After therapy or in the absence of disease the pathogen is eliminated. The
pathogen causes a specific host response against it. Well-defined
virulence factors are present. Disease is present when the
pathogen is inoculated in animal models. Only three species
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and
Bacteroides forsythusclearly fulfill these criteria and are considered true periodontal pathogens. Also, a limited number of bacteria partially fulfill the criteria and are considered etiologically
relevant. These include Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium
nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Eikenella corrodens, Peptostreptococcus micros, Selenomonas spp, Eubacterium spp, spirochetes, and
strepococcus. Therefore the detection of these potential periodontal pathogens may have an important role in the diagnosis
and treatment of certain forms of periodontal diseases.
In planning the treatment complex dental problems with a
periodontal component, the results of microbial tests may be
Patient with a COMPLEX DENTAL PROBLEM OF A SEVERE OR RAPID-ONSET TYPE OF PERIODONTITIS
B
Genetic susceptibility test
for severe periodontitis
Consider: Age of patient
Adult
Young
Determine:
Severity
Treat as adult, severe
Determine: Smoking status
Severe
Slight to moderate
Determine: Disease progression
Determine: Systemic status
See algorithm p. 11
Systemic involvement
Chronic
Rapid
Microbiologic testing
Microbiologically targeted treatment (Tx)
Gene negative:
standard Tx
Gene positive or heavy smoker:

aggressive Tx
Assess: Success
Refractory
Successful
Gene negative:
standard Tx
10

aggressive Tx
Patient with ADULT-ONSET PERIODONTITIS
Genetic susceptibility test

for severe periodontitis
Determine: Smoking level

Evaluate systemic status
Determine: Severity
Slight to moderate
Severe
Conventional treatment
Gene negative:
standard Tx
Chronic

aggressive Tx
See algorithm p. 10
Refractory
Bad oral hygiene
Repeat conventional Tx
Refractory
Successful
Rapid
Successful
Good oral hygiene
Gene negative
Gene positive or heavy smoker
Microbiologic testing
Standard Tx
and maintenance
Enhanced Tx
and maintenance
Microbiologically targeted Tx
Assess: Success
Refractory
Successful
useful. In types of periodontitis that are severe or of rapid onset

or that do not respond well to conventional periodontal therapy
specific microorganisms may be causing the problem. Clinical
measurements, radiographic evaluation, and monitoring for
progression of disease will determine whether microbial tests
can be useful. In many such cases, these tests determine the
type and magnitude of the entire treatment plan. The following
factors are applicable to all patients.
A
The age of the patient may determine the potential usefulness

of microbial tests. In early-onset periodontitis, when periodontal disease is usually severe, identification of specific
pathogens such as A. actinomycetemcomitans or Porphyromonas
gingivalis is often valuable information that can be used to
guide treatment. Elimination of these and other periodontopathic bacteria through adequate periodontal and/or antimicrobial therapy can be associated with improved clinical outcomes and a better periodontal prognosis.
In adult forms of periodontitis, the severity of the problem

is assessed clinically and radiographically. For individual
adults, the future course of the disease can be anticipated
by knowing whether the patient is a heavy smoker (> 20
pack/year) or has a genetic predisposition to severe disease.
Heavy smokers have a 4.2 times greater risk of severe disease, and those who have the interleukin-1 genetic predisposition have an 18.9 times higher risk of severe disease.
Adult patients with less severe conditions or genotypenegative individuals should be treated via conventional
periodontal therapy. In most of these instances the disease
can be arrested and the patient successfully treated. However, a few individuals do not respond adequately to conventional methods despite good levels of oral hygiene.
These patients may also benefit from microbial testing and,
based on the results, institution of microbially targeted periodontal therapy.
D
Assessing the systemic health status of adult patients is also

extremely important. Patients with associated systemic disease may have an altered host response. Opportunistic infections may appear as a result of impaired healing, an inability
to tolerate certain treatments, potential drug interaction, or a
compromised immune system. In these patients, it is especially important to perform a microbial test to ensure that the
appropriate antimicrobial therapy is prescribed.
Additional Readings
Haffajjee A, Socransky SS. Microbial etiological agents of destructive periodontal diseases. Periodontology 2000 1994;5:78111.
Kornman KS et al. The interleukin 1 genotype as a severity factor in
adult periodontal disease. J Clin Periodontol 1995;22:258.
Lang NP, Karring T. Proceedings of the 1st European Workshop on Periodontology. London: Quintessence Publishing; 1994.
World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics. In: Newman MG, editor.
Annals of periodontology. Vol 1. Chicago; ARP; 1997. p. 37.
Van Winkelhoff AJ, Rams TE, Slots J. Systemic antibiotic therapy in
periodontics. Periodontology 2000 1996;10:45.
11
PART 3
INDICATIONS FOR COLLECTING AND
RECORDING DATA
6 Indications for Periodontal Examination,

Steven A. Tsurudome
7 Indications for Radiographic Examination,
Walter B. Hall
12
14
Indications for Periodontal Examination

Steven A. Tsurudome
The periodontal examination is integral to the comprehensive

examination of the oral health of the dental patient. The periodontal examination includes the history of the chief complaint,
the patients medical-dental history, and examination of the
extraoral and intraoral soft tissue. The initial periodontal examination (IPE) provides the baseline documentation, for example,
of gingival inflammation and past destruction to the periodontium, from which the appropriate diagnosis, prognosis, and
treatment plan are formulated.
A
Each new dental patient should have an initial periodontal

examination; periodontal disease can occur at any stage in
life, although the incidence increases with age. The IPE
involves assessment and documentation of the following
clinical parameters: probing depth measurements, clinical
attachment levels, bleeding on probing, furcation involvements, plaque index, gingival index, mucogingival
anatomy, tooth mobility, occlusion, and full-mouth radiographic evaluation of the alveolar bone. The extent of presenting periodontal destruction is revealed by the IPE.
Assessment of the clinical parameters just described does
not predict future destruction. The IPE is essential, nevertheless, in bringing problem areas into focus.
The problem areas may become recognizable by any of the

following changes: (1) probing depths of more than 3 mm,
(2) furcation involvement, (3) bleeding on probing, (4) loss
of attachment (LOA), (5) gingival exudate or suppuration,
and (6) radiographic evidence of loss of alveolar bone.
After a diagnosis of periodontal disease has been made,

periodontal therapy phase I should be initiated, appropriate
to the severity of the disease. Then, phase I evaluation
(ie, evaluation of the initial treatment) must be performed
to ascertain the success of this initial periodontal therapy
(to assess, eg, the control of inflammation, bacterial plaque,
and occlusion). Typically, this is undertaken about 4 to
6 weeks after the completion of the treatment. Phase I evaluation includes remeasuring the probing depths and
attachment levels and reassessing the bleeding on probing,
tooth mobility, gingival and plaque indexes, and occlusion.
12
If the phase I evaluation reveals a statistically significant

LOA (a change of 2 to 3 mm), periodontal disease activity
may be present. From an assessment of the clinical parameters documented during the phase I evaluation, the
clinician can formulate an appropriate plan for repeating
phase I therapy, initiating phase II periodontal therapy

(surgery), or referring the patient to a specialist. Referral to
a periodontist is recommended for phase II therapy, unless
the dentist has a thorough knowledge of the rationale and
methodology, as well as clinical experience in treating
advanced periodontal diseases.
E
For the patient who undergoes phase II periodontal therapy, a phase II reevaluation should be performed approximately 3 months after the completion of that treatment.
This evaluation is similar to the phase I evaluation and
assesses the success of the phase II therapy. The phase II
evaluation also determines the frequency of recall (maintenance) evaluations which may be indicated.
In phase I evaluation, any statistically significant decrease

in the rate of LOA may be indicative of progress in the control of the periodontal disease. If this is the case, the
patient may be placed in the recall (maintenance) phase.
The goals for the recall visits are periodic longitudinal
assessment of the periodontal status, maintenance of periodontal health through appropriate scaling and/or root
planing, and reinforcement of oral hygiene instructions
(OHI) as necessary. The frequency of the periodic recall
evaluations may be determined by the severity of the past
periodontal disease or dental history of periodontal
surgery. Usually, an average frequency of 3 months is typical, with the examinations performed alternatively
between the referring dentist and the periodontist. Appropriate radiographs may be taken once a year, as needed.
After consecutive recall evaluations indicate that stable

periodontal health has been achieved, with control of bacterial plaque, the recall evaluation frequency may be
extended to a yearly examination with appropriate radiographs taken by the dentist.
Additional Readings
American Academy of Periodontology. Proceedings of the World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics. Chicago: The Academy; 1989.
Armitage G. Clinical evaluation of periodontal diseases. Periodontology
2000 1995;7:39.
Lang N, Karring T. Proceedings of the 1st European Workshop on Periodontology. London: Quintessence Publishing; 1994. p. 42.
Indications for PERIODONTAL EXAMINATION

New patient
Assess: Chief complaint, medical-dental
history, and extraoral-intraoral soft tissues
Initial periodontal examination
Assess: Clinical parameters
B Evidence of alveolar bone loss
Probing depths > 3 mm

Furcation involvement
Bleeding on probing
Clinical LOA
Recession and/or lack of
attached gingiva
Gingival exudate or suppuration
No evidence of alveolar bone loss

Probing depths 3 mm
No furcation involvement
No bleeding on probing
No clinical LOA
No recession and adequately
attached gingiva
No gingival exudate or suppuration
Formulate: Diagnosis and prognosis

Periodontal disease
diagnosed
Clinical periodontal
health
Formulate: Treatment plan
C Phase I periodontal therapy appropriate

to the severity of the periodontal disease
D Phase I evaluation at 46 weeks
Scaling and root planing

OHI
Yearly recall evaluations
with appropriate radiographs
Assess: Control of inflammation, plaque, and occlusion
No
Refer to
periodontist
F
Phase II therapy
E Phase II evaluation
(3 months)
Yes
Scaling and root planing

Oral hygiene instruction
Recall frequency of
36 months
Scaleroot planeprophylaxis
OHI
Radiographs as needed
Consecutive recall
evaluations an indication
of stable clinical
periodontal health
G Yearly recall evaluations with

appropriate radiographs
13
Indications for Radiographic Examination

Walter B. Hall
When a patient comes to the dentists office seeking treatment,

the dentist must decide which radiographs are needed for the
diagnosis and development of a treatment plan. The patient may
be new or returning for a recall visit and thus already on record.
Temporal guidelines for taking new radiographs no longer are
regarded as valid. The dentists judgment on the need for new or
additional films is accepted as valid. Before making this decision,
the dentist must obtain and evaluate the adequacy of existing
radiographs and weigh the potential value from new or additional films against the negative effects of cumulative radiation.
If little change has occurred since the preceding visit, as

determined by clinical examination and histories, only new
bite-wing radiographs and any periapical films indicated by
the examination need to be considered. Annual taking of
new bite-wing films no longer is indicated. The dentists
judgment of the value from new films suggested by the
patients signs and symptoms must be weighed against the
potential danger of cumulative radiation from films that are
not critical to diagnosis or treatment planning.
D
A full series of radiographs is needed for almost all new

patients who have teeth. If earlier films exist and are
obtained, assess the patients age in relation to signs and
symptoms. If the existing films are recent enough, assess
their quality and adequacy in relation to current problems.
Obtain new bite-wing and periapical films as necessary to
evaluate specific problems. The routine taking of a new full
series cannot be justified.
If the new patient has no recent radiographs or the existing

films cannot be obtained expediently from the former dentist, take a new full series.
When a patient returns for a recall visit, the dentist must

decide whether new or additional radiographs are required.
14
If no series has been obtained for many years, and a comprehensive radiographic evaluation seems necessary for
further treatment planning or definite diagnosis, a new full
series is indicated. The decision to take new films is the
responsibility of the dentist.
Additional Readings
Prichard JF. The diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.
Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1979. p. 67.
Wilson TG, Kornman KS. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 21929.
Patient for RADIOGRAPHS
New patient
Recall patient
Determine: Whether earlier films exist
An older full series

has been obtained
Films are
recent
No recent
radiographs exist
Full series is
recent enough to be
representative of
the current status
There is no recent full

series, and treatment
needs indicate a need
for new radiographs
Films are
too old
Assess:
Clinical change
Assess:
Radiographic
quality
Obtain new full series

or individual films
as needed
Take new
full series
No clinical change
found necessitating
new films
Good radiographs:
not much change
noted clinically
Inadequate
radiographs
Obtain new bite-wing

and periapical films as
indicated by examination
and history
Obtain new
full series
No new films
Significant clinical
change noted
Obtain new bite-wing

and periapical films
as indicated by
examination and history
15
PART 4
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
8 Gingival Color Change

Walter B. Hall
9 Gingival Bleeding
Walter B. Hall
10 Split Interdental Papillae
Walter B. Hall
11 Localized Periodontal Pain
Walter B. Hall
12 Generalized Periodontal Pain
Walter B. Hall
Gingival Color Change

Walter B. Hall
Gingival color changes are important visual indications of periodontal disease activity. They should be recorded in sufficient
detail so that further changes can be noted at future examinations. The color changes and their locales are useful in the differential diagnosis of periodontal and other diseases manifested
in the gingiva.
A
Gingival color may indicate health or disease. Healthy gingivae vary in color depending on a persons racial background. American texts often describe healthy gingivae as
being salmon pink; this color, however, is limited to many,
but not all, white people. Most of the worlds people have
some melanin pigmentation to their gingivae in the normal
or healthy state. Lighter coffee-colored, disseminated
melanin pigment is typical of American Indians, Asians,
and some white people. Darker tones, sometimes disseminated but more often discretely localized, are characteristic
of black people.
The effects of disease on the gingiva often are manifested by

color changes. If the gingiva becomes whitened, the white
may wipe away. If it wipes off, it is not a true white lesion
but probably consists of sloughed cells and debris that have
not been wiped away during cleaning. Such debris may
accompany painful gingival lesions such as (1) herpetic gingivostomatitis, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG), or
necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP); or (2) human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gingivitis or periodontitis, in
which the patient avoids brushing or eating normally and
the sloughed cell mass and detritus accumulate. Whitened
gingiva that is not dbridable by wiping often results from
smoking. The problem is usually generalized; palatal
changes are most common and most extensive, and
changes on buccal mucosa or the tongue are often
detectable. Trauma, such as occlusal function on an edentulous area, may produce localized areas of gingival
16
whitening. Other white changes are usually discrete and

localized. They are collectively termed leukoplakias. They
may be manifestations of serious systemic diseases and
merit careful differential diagnosis.
C
The most common color change associated with diseases of

the gingiva is redness. Redness is commonly seen with all
inflammatory periodontal diseases. Marginal and papillary
redness is a feature of various types of gingivitis, periodontitis, NUG and NUP, herpetic gingivostomatitis, and desquamative gingivitis. In desquamative gingivitis, the redness
usually extends into the attached gingiva. Pale red changes
are manifestations of less severe inflammation; bright red
changes indicate a more severe or acute inflammation.
Linear marginal erythema is a narrow band of reddening affecting the marginal and papillary gingivae of
patients with the classic immune deficiency gingivitis seen
in people affected by HIV. A somewhat similar reddening
may accompany pregnancy gingivitis.
Changes to magenta are a manifestation of a chronic

inflammatory situation in which stasis of blood flow has
occurred as a result of fluid leakage and swelling. Such
chronic changes are seen most often in patients with established gingivitis or periodontitis.
Additional Readings
Grant DA, Stern IB, Listgarten MA. Periodontics. 6th ed. St. Louis:
Mosby; 1988. p. 533.
Patient for GINGIVAL COLOR ASSESSMENT
Healthy gingiva
Salmon pink
Diseased gingiva
Salmon pink
with brown
pigment
Wipes
off
Many
white people
Coffee
tones
Dark
tones
Black people
Some
white
people
White
Asians
Does not
wipe off
Necrotic
cells and
debris
Red
Magenta
Chronic
inflammation
Pale
red
Bright
red
Mild
inflammation
Acute or severe
inflammation
Assess:
Extent of inflammation
Localization
American
Indians
Caused by
smoking
Caused by
trauma
Systemic disease
manifestations
Leukoplakias
Linear marginal
inflammation
Less circumscribed
inflammation
HIV gingivitis
or pregnancy
gingivitis
Nonspecific
finding with
other types
of gingivitis
17
Gingival Bleeding
Walter B. Hall
Gingival bleeding during a periodontal examination indicates

inflammation. Visual signs of inflammation (swelling, redness,
or magenta coloring) may be present at any time. The absence
of visual signs of inflammation does not permit a diagnosis of
gingival health. The gingivae may be fibrotic as a response to
repeated bouts of gingivitis or periodontitis, and the tissue may
appear pink and firm. In the pocket, however, inflammation
may be present, but its visual signs are masked from view superficially; therefore, a diagnosis of health cannot be made with
only a visual examination.
A
On probing, if no bleeding occurs and crevices are within

normal limits, no inflammatory disease is present. If pockets are present but no bleeding occurs, the disease probably
is in an inactive state.
Bleeding may occur if inflammation is present in pocket

areas. If bleeding does occur on probing, inflammatory
periodontal disease is present and further examination permits an accurate diagnosis.
When inflammatory signs are present, a short burst of compressed air may elicit easy bleeding, especially in interdental areas. Easy bleeding of this type is indicative of
necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) or necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP) (see Chapter 26) or of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gingivitis or periodontitis
18
(see Chapters 32 and 33). Additional aspects of the examination and evaluation of the medical and dental history
permit such diagnoses (see Chapters 1 and 3).
D
If no bleeding occurs on probing despite the presence of

inflammatory signs, the patient may be free of active periodontal disease; however, the absence of bleeding on probing in the presence of visual signs of inflammation would
be a most unusual finding.
When bleeding occurs on probing, active inflammatory periodontal disease is present. An additional evaluation of findings, history, and radiographs permits a definitive diagnosis.
Additional Readings
Abbas F et al. Bleeding plaque ratio and the development of gingival
inflammation. J Clin Periodontol 1986;13:774.
Grant DA, Stern JB, Listgarten MA. Periodontics. 6th ed. St. Louis:
Mosby; 1988. p. 342.
Haffajee AD, Socransky SS, Goodson JM. Clinical parameters as predictors of destructive periodontal activity. J Clin Periodontol
1983;10:257.
Lindhe J. Textbook of clinical periodontology. 2nd ed. Copenhagen:
Munksgaard; 1989. p. 362.
Patient for GINGIVAL BLEEDING ASSESSMENT
Assess:
Visual inflammation
No signs of
inflammation
Visible signs of
inflammation
Visible examination
with air
Visible examination
with air
No bleeding
Easy
bleeding
No bleeding
Probe
No bleeding
Consider:
No inflammatory
periodontal
disease
Inactive
periodontal
disease
Probe
Bleeding
Inflammatory
periodontal disease
(see Chapters 23
and 24)
Consider:
NUG and NUP
(see Chapter 26)
HIV gingivitis and
periodontitis
(see Chapters
32 and 33)
No bleeding
No active
disease
Bleeding
Inflammatory
periodontal disease
(see Chapters 23
and 24)
19
10
Split Interdental Papillae

Walter B. Hall
In a split interdental papilla, the center has been destroyed, leaving a facial and lingual tab of papillary tissue between which a
probe can be moved from one tooth to the other apical to the tips
of the remaining portions of the papilla (Figures 10-1 and 10-2).
Often, a split papilla can be visualized when air is expressed
between the teeth, deflecting the facial or lingual papillary tabs.
Split papillae are most often associated with necrotizing ulcerative
gingivitis (NUG) or necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP), or
they exist after NUP, creating a noncleansable area where adult
periodontitis is likely to begin. NUG or NUP may be a localized or
generalized problem. Similar split papillae may occur with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) periodontitis and can be extremely
severe and sudden. Orthodontic banding in which bands impinge
on papillae and inflammation occurs as a result of difficulties in
plaque control is the second most common cause of localized or
generalized split papillae. Injuries caused during restorative procedures may also be a cause. Long-term heavy buildup of gross
calculus is another common cause of split papillae, especially if the
patient has never or rarely had dental cleaning. In the past decade
the severe periodontitis associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been described; it has been
termed HIV periodontitis. This must be differentiated from other
lesions associated with split papillae, usually on the basis of history, membership in a high-risk group (eg, recreational drug
users, homosexuals and bisexuals, hemophiliacs, dialysis patients,
and sexually promiscuous people), antibody assay for the AIDS
virus (HIV), T-cell lymphocyte assay (CD4 count), or high viral
load counts. These problems and their etiologies are important to
note during the development of a treatment plan. Surgical repair
of split papillae can be a significant means of preventing the
development or progress of tooth-endangering periodontitis. If
the split papillae are caused by a disease with frequent recurrence
(eg, NUG, NUP, or HIV periodontitis), the dentist must be certain
that the patient is no longer highly susceptible to recurrence
before a decision is made to proceed with surgery. Otherwise, the
Figure 10-1 Split interdental papillae. Reproduced with permission

from Hall WB, Roberts WE, LaBarre EE. Decision making in dental
treatment planning. St. Louis: Mosby: 1994.
20
surgery must be repeated after a new disease episode. However, if

the split papillae are caused by an injury, such as orthodontic
banding, a decision can be made to proceed surgically after the
movement is completed.
A
Split papillae can occur as a localized or generalized problem. NUG, NUP, or HIV periodontitis may be localized or
generalized in their oral manifestations. Injuries may be
(1) localized, especially if related to wounding during
restorative procedures, or (2) generalized, especially if
related to orthodontic banding or long-term dental neglect.
Evidence of an injury may be detected clinically, or its etiology can be elicited from an appropriate history. In this
manner, most injury cases can be diagnosed and appropriate treatment planned. Surgical repair of defects caused by
injuries, in which patient neglect or special susceptibility to
disease does not make recurrence likely, is often preferable
to repetitive instrumentation at frequent intervals.
When no history of injury can be elicited, a differential diagnosis must be made among gingivitis/periodontitis, NUG,
NUP, recurrent NUG or NUP, periodontitis possibly following
earlier lesions that caused nonrepaired split papillae, and
HIV periodontitis. Redness and swelling may be signs of any
of these lesions. Recurrent NUG or NUP may be masked
visually by fibrotic repair after earlier episodes. HIV periodontitis usually exhibits marked redness and swelling with
spontaneous bleeding and is characterized by sudden, severe
episodes accompanied by generalized symptoms of illness,
such as malaise, fever, and gastrointestinal upset.
Figure 10-2 Split interdental papillae.
Patient with SPLIT INTERDENTAL PAPILLAE
Determine: Extent of problem
Problem localized
No evidence or
history of injury
Problem generalized
Evidence or
history of injury
No evidence or
history of injury
History and
examination
Dental
injury
Pain
Other
Orthodontic
injury
Assess:
Pain, bleeding, color, swelling, pseudomembrane,
odor, calculus, pocket depth, and LOA
Pain
No pain
Redness
Swelling
Easy bleeding
Minimal redness
or swelling
Easy bleeding
Redness
Swelling
No easy bleeding
Redness
Swelling
Easy bleeding
Pseudomembrane
Pseudomembrane
(hidden)
No pseudomembrane
Pseudomembrane
Distinctive odor
Distinctive odor
Pocket depth
(no LOA)
Localized NUG
Redness and swelling

No easy bleeding
No pseudomembrane
Pseudomembrane
(hidden)
No distinctive odor
Distinctive odor
Odor but less
unpleasant
Heavy calculus
Pocket depth
with LOA
Localized NUP
Redness and
swelling
Possible easy
bleeding
Minimal redness
or swelling
No pseudomembrane
No distinctive odor
Distinctive odor
No pain
Pocket depth
with LOA
Localized
periodontitis
Possible
pocket depth
(no LOA)
Heavy calculus
Pocket depth
with LOA
Pocket depth
with LOA
Generalized NUP
Deep pockets
with LOA
Pocket depth
with LOA
Recurrent NUP
Positive for
AIDS antibodies
Low CD4 count
High viral load
Localized
gingivitis
Generalized
periodontitis
No LOA
but possible
pocket depths
Generalized
gingivitis
HIV periodontitis
Easy bleeding is especially associated with the initial episode

of NUG, NUP, or their recurrences, but must be provoked by
brushing or other minor trauma. Bleeding associated with
HIV periodontitis may be spontaneous and unprovoked. Neither easy bleeding nor spontaneous, unprovoked bleeding
is associated with gingivitis/periodontitis. The typical
pseudomembrane (ie, white, tenaciously adherent mass of
bacteria, dead cells, and fibrin) that fills the necrosed center of
the split papilla is characteristic of NUG, NUP, or HIV periodontitis but not of gingivitis/periodontitis. A distinctive odor
is associated with NUG or NUP, but a different, less unpleasant odor characterizes HIV periodontitis. Pocket depth with
loss of attachment (LOA) can occur with any of these lesions,
but it may not occur in the initial NUG episodes. Pain is a
symptom especially related to NUG, NUP, and HIV periodontitis but not to gingivitis/periodontitis. Extremely heavy calculus that creates the appearance of split papillae may be
indicative of gingivitis/periodontitis but may be found with
any of these lesions; this necessitates the use of other criteria
to make a differentiation. When AIDS or an AIDS-related

syndrome (based especially on patient history) is suspected,
an HIV antibody test, a low T-cell lymphocyte assay (CD4
count), and a raised viral load count can confirm or rule out
this etiology with its sequelae.
Additional Readings
Grupe HE, Wilder LS. Observations of necrotizing gingivitis in 870 military trainees. J Periodontol 1956;27:255.
Winkler JR, Grassi M, Murray PA. Clinical description and etiology of
HIV-associated periodontal diseases. In: Robertson RC, Greenspan
JS, editors. Perspectives in oral manifestations of AIDS. Littleton
(MA): PSG Publishing; 1988. p. 49.
21
11
Localized Periodontal Pain

Walter B. Hall
drome), or both. Electric pulp testing, application of ice or

hot gutta-percha, and radiographic evaluation may be used,
as already described, to determine whether the pulp is vital.
If no endodontic problem can be diagnosed by these means,
cracked tooth syndrome should be suspected. Investigate a
history of trauma (eg, an automobile accident or a blow to
the mouth). Visual examination for cracks, percussion to
elicit sharp pain, and transillumination with fiberoptic light
to indicate the depths of cracks can assist the diagnosis of
cracked tooth syndrome. If the symptoms are not too
severe, placing a fixed crown may resolve the problem for
some time. More severe cracks may necessitate extraction
of the tooth. When a pulpal problem is accompanied by
deep cracks extending into the roots of teeth, the prognosis
is guarded at best, and the patient should be informed that
the tooth may be lost.
A vertical or spiral crack extending apically down the
root usually is accompanied by deep, narrow pocket formation that is not characteristic in its width of typical periodontitis. Transillumination may disclose the crack extending into the pocket. Meticulous probing may elicit a sharp
pain when probing is precisely at the crack position but not
immediately on either side of it. If the pain is severe, the
prognosis is hopeless.
Localized pain is not a common sign directly associated with

most periodontal diseases. Periodontal pain localized to a single tooth or area is usually associated with the development of
a periodontal abscess, an endodontic problem, cracked tooth
syndrome, or any combination of these. The differential diagnosis of these problems may be quite difficult and requires
careful testing.
A
Localized swelling and/or redness may be associated with

localized periodontal pain. Probing the involved teeth for
periodontal pockets is the first step in differential diagnosis.
If no pocket depth with loss of attachment (LOA) is found,
periodontitis can be eliminated as a possibility.
If pocket depth is detected, inflammatory periodontal

disease (most likely an abscess) is present. The next step
would be electric pulp testing, examining for reaction to
ice, ethylene oxide, or to hot gutta-percha applied to the
tooth, and finally, radiographically evaluating for periapical
radiolucencies. If no reaction to an electric pulp test occurs,
an endodontic problem exists. Hot and cold tests are applied
to clarify whether the pulp is vital. A radiograph showing a
periapical radiolucency indicates a pulpal problem. The
absence of such a radiolucency could indicate that no pulpal problem exists or that the pulpal problem is of insufficient duration to have destroyed enough bone periapically
to be visible on the film at the time of the examination.
The dentist should evaluate all these findings together to
decide whether a pulpal problem exists. If the tooth gives a
positive pulp test electrically and reacts to hot and cold, and
if the radiograph shows no periapical radiolucency, the
problem should be treated as a periodontal abscess. If a pulp
test is negative, reactions to hot or cold are negative, or if a
periapical radiolucency is noted on the radiograph,
endodontic treatment should be undertaken if the tooth is
viewed as salvageable and useful in the overall treatment
plan. If the endodontic treatment is successful, periodontal
treatment follows. Whether or not pocket depth is present,
endodontic treatment is usually performed before periodontal treatment. If a tooth with pain of periodontal or
endodontic origin, or both, is nonessential to the overall
treatment plan or nonsalvageable, it should be extracted.
22
If no pocket depth is detected, the pain may be endodontic

in origin, caused by a crack in the tooth (cracked tooth syn-
An additional cause of localized pain, which occurs often, is

one caused by the lodging of a foreign body in the sulcus or
pocket. Popcorn and sesame seeds are the most common
causes of these localized, often very painful problems. They
are resolved by removing the offending substance and
allowing healing to occur. Long-time impactions of food
can result in serious loss of periodontal support unless they
are treated promptly.
Additional Readings
Cameron CE. The cracked tooth syndrome: additional findings. J Am
Dent Assoc 1976;92:971.
Cohen S, Burns RC. Pathways of the pulp. 7th ed. St. Louis: Mosby;
1997. p. 750.
Hiatt WH. Incomplete crown-root fracture. J Periodontol 1973;44:369.
Pitts DL, Natkin E. Diagnosis and treatment of vertical root fractures. J
Endodontics 1983;9:338.
Prichard JF. The diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.
Patient with LOCALIZED PERIODONTAL PAIN
No swelling
and/or redness
A Localized swelling
and/or redness
Assess:
Pocket depth
C No pocket
depth
B Pocket depth
C No pocket
LOA
depth
Inflammatory
periodontal problem
(abscess)
Assess:
Pulp test
Reaction to hot and cold
Positive
Negative
Negative
Positive
Negative
Positive
Radiography
No apical
defect
Apical defect
or no defect
Apical defect
or no defect
No apical
defect
Apical
defect
No apical
defect
Cracked tooth
syndrome
Endodontic
problem
Periodontal
+
endodontic
problem
Periodontal
problem
Endodontic
problem
Cracked tooth
syndrome
PLACE
CROWN
ENDODONTIC
TREATMENT
ENDODONTIC
TREATMENT
ENDODONTIC
TREATMENT
EXTRACT
Assess:
Foreign body involved or not
No
PERIODONTAL
TREATMENT
PLACE
CROWN
Yes
REMOVE
FOREIGN
BODY
23
12
Generalized Periodontal Pain

Walter B. Hall
Generalized periodontal pain is not a symptom of periodontitis per se. A patient who has generalized periodontitis, however, may experience pain associated with concomitant problems affecting the periodontium, which can make a diagnosis
difficult. Records and histories of old dental examinations are
especially useful in establishing that a patient has a history of
nonpainful periodontitis. The development of pain after this
time indicates the onset of a new problem. The most common
causes of generalized periodontal pain are necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG), necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis
(NUP), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) periodontitis,
herpetic gingivostomatitis, and some systemic infections that
may affect the gingiva.
A
Generalized swelling and/or redness of the gingiva are

found with most cases of NUG, NUP, or HIV periodontitis.
With NUG, these changes affect the papillae most severely,
but gingival margins often are affected as well. With herpetic gingivostomatitis, these changes are more generalized
and not specifically associated with papillae.
The absence of pocket depths with loss of attachment

(LOA), as determined by probing, indicates that periodontitis is not involved. If papillary necrosis (destruction of the
tips of papillae and pseudomembrane formation) is
detected in multiple areas, evaluate the patients breath for
a distinctive, pungent odor. Take the patients temperature.
Question the patient regarding an unusual taste in the
mouth (often described as metallic). Evaluate papillae for
easy bleeding by expressing short bursts of air into each
area to determine whether this provocation elicits unusually easy bleeding. The correct diagnosis is NUG if papillary
necrosis is accompanied by the distinctive odor; a steady,
but moderately raised temperature; a metallic taste; and
easy bleeding. Such patients usually are adolescents or
young adults. Younger patients are rarely affected, but
occasionally older people may be affected.
24
If pocket depths with LOA are not present and papillary

necrosis is not detected, the pungent odor characteristic of
NUG or NUP and the metallic taste should not be present.
A spiking temperature that is high (104 to 105 F) to
normal may be detected, but several thermometer readings
at 15- to 30-minute intervals may be necessary to observe
such temperature spikes. The patient, however, may reveal

a history of repetitive sweating and episodes of malaise. If
tiny, round ulcerations are scattered over the gingiva and
occasionally extend onto mucosal surfaces, herpetic gingivostomatitis is indicated. Such patients usually are adolescent, but any age group may be affected.
D
When pocket depths with LOA can be observed, with or

without overt swelling and redness, generalized periodontitis is present, although this problem is rarely associated
with periodontal pain. Other causes of generalized periodontal pain should be investigated. If probing produces
more easy bleeding than is usual with periodontitis, evaluate the patient for an abnormal temperature and foul
breath. NUP superimposed on periodontitis may be present.
Papillary necrosis may not be obvious in such patients. In
an adolescent or young adult, NUP may be an appropriate
diagnosis; however, this diagnosis is unusual in an older
patient. If the patients history indicates sexual activity with
multiple partners, significant drug use (especially intravenous), or the patient is in a group, such as homosexuals
or bisexuals, at high risk for acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS), an evaluation for antibodies to HIV and
T-cell lymphocyte assay (CD4 count) and viral load measurements are helpful in ruling out the severe, rapidly
destructive, essentially irreversible periodontitis associated
with immunodeficiency.
Additional Readings
Grassi M et al. Management of HIV-associated periodontal diseases. In:
Robertson PG, Greenspan JS, editors. Perspectives in oral manifestations of AIDS. Littleton (MA): PSG Publishing; 1988. p. 119.
Schluger S et al. Periodontal diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger; 1990. p. 265.
Wilson TG, Kornman KS. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 2525, 297, 4424.
Winkler JR, Grasso M, Murray PA. Clinical description and etiology of
HIV-associated periodontal diseases. In: Robertson PG, Greenspan
JS, editors. Perspectives in oral manifestations of AIDS. Littleton
(MA): PSG Publishing; 1988. p. 49.
Patient with GENERALIZED PERIODONTAL PAIN
A Swelling and/or
redness of the gingiva
No swelling and/or
redness of the gingiva
Probe
Assess:
Pocket depth
No pocket depth
with LOA
B Papillary
necrosis
D Pocket depth
with LOA
C No papillary
necrosis
Assess:
Breath
Temperature
Taste
Bleeding
Foul breath,
raised temperature,
metallic taste,
and/or easy bleeding
No extreme odor
to breath,
metallic taste,
or easy bleeding
NUG
Spiking
temperature
changes
Multiple tiny
ulcerations on
gingiva and/or
mucosae
Herpetic
gingivostomatitis
or systemic infection
(ie, streptococcal)
Easy bleeding
temperature rise
and/or foul breath
Adolescent or
young adult
Older age
group
Test:
HIV antibodies; high viral load CD4 assay
Negative test
Positive test
Recurrent,
severe NUP
HIV periodontitis
25
PART 5
DETECTING AND RECORDING
FINDINGS
13 Probing
Donald F. Adams
14 Types of Furcation Involvement
Walter B. Hall
15 Differentiating Degrees of Mobility
Walter B. Hall
16 Radiographic Evaluation
Donald F. Adams
17 Interpreting Bone Loss on Radiographs
Walter B. Hall
18 Vertical Bone Defects
Walter B. Hall
19 Use of Digital Radiographs in Periodontics
Thomas Schiff
20 Overhanging Margin
Walter B. Hall
21 Root Exposure
Walter B. Hall
22 Determining and Recording Occlusal Findings
Walter B. Hall
13
Probing
Donald F. Adams
Periodontitis is characterized clinically by loss of attachment

(LOA) and the formation of pockets and osseous defects. The
documentation of LOA is essential in establishing baseline data,
monitoring treatment results, and determining periodontal stability. Probes vary in design by length, thickness, and millimeter
markings. Characteristics of a good periodontal probe include a
thin shaft with a rounded tip, durable markings that are easily
read, and ease of sterilization. Commonly, six measurements are
recorded per tooth, with each root of the molars treated as a
single tooth. Therefore six facial and six lingual recordings are
made for each mandibular molar, whereas there are six facial
and three palatal recordings for each maxillary molar. The probe
is inserted gently into the gingival sulcus and stepped around
the tooth at about 1 mm increments (Figure 13-1). The probe
should be kept as close as possible to the axial direction of the
tooth while the tip remains in contact with the root surface.
Measurements are made from the gingival margin for pocket
depth and from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), or a similar
fixed point, to the gingival margin for recession.
A
The probing depth and recession measurements added

together determine the LOA. Factors such as the health of
the surrounding gingiva, probing force applied by the operator, and discomfort tolerance of the patient can make a difference of 1 to 2 mm in probe readings. Bleeding on probing of minimal pockets accompanied by LOA usually is
managed similarly to situations in which no LOA has
occurred. If LOA is 5 mm or more, refer the patient to a

periodontist for evaluation. When probe depths reach the
mucogingival junction (MGJ) or beyond, the dentist should
determine the adequacy of the band of keratinized and
attached tissue remaining to maintain the health of the
periodontium and to resist trauma from brushing and/or
restorative procedures.
B
If the probing depth is up to 3 mm with no LOA, and no

bleeding is observed after gentle probing, presume that the
gingiva is healthy and continue regular periodontic maintenance. Bleeding on probing with minimal crevice depths
and no LOA usually means inadequate hygiene by the
patient. Review dental hygiene techniques, scale and polish
the teeth, and place the patient on regular maintenance.
For patients with pockets that are deeper than 3 mm, evaluate the quality of their plaque control. Evidence of inadequate dental hygiene requires renewed efforts in patient
education. Continued noncompliance or lack of patient
skills may require referral for management and certainly is
a contraindication to more definitive therapy. Bleeding in
the presence of adequate hygiene indicates that the disease
process is not being controlled despite the efforts of the
patient. Because a principal goal of periodontal therapy is
to create a manageable environment for the patient, the
dentist can treat the affected area or refer the patient to a
Figure 13-1 Technique and charting to record periodontal probings. Reproduced with permission
from Hall WB, Roberts WE, Labarre EE. Decision making in dental treatment planning. St Louis:
Mosby; 1994.
26
Patient for PERIODONTAL PROBING
Assess:
Depth of pocket
Recession
Bleeding
Pockets 03 mm
Probe goes
beyond MGJ
CONSIDER
TREATING
SURGICALLY
Pockets deeper than 3 mm
LOA with recession
No LOA
Probe does not

go beyond MGJ
Bleeding
Bleeding
No bleeding
No LOA
(pseudopocket
drug induced)
LOA
No bleeding
Inadequate
hygiene
Regular
hygiene
Refer to
periodontist
Adequate
hygiene
Refer to
periodontist
Plan
treatment
Hygiene
instruction
Instrumentation
Case
work-up
TREAT
SURGICALLY
Regular maintenance
Improvement
Regular
maintenance
periodontist. If the choice is to maintain the area using

nonsurgical means, it is crucial to monitor the patient regularly and document the treatment properly.
D
Pseudopockets exist where probing depths are greater than

3 mm with no accompanying observable LOA are found;
pseudopockets may be drug induced. A complete case
work-up is required if the dentist chooses to manage the
patient. Referral to a periodontist is also an option.
When LOA is accompanied by probing depths greater than
3 mm, the options are referral or a comprehensive periodontal diagnostic work-up and the development of a treatment plan. In all instances, the patient must be informed of
No improvement
Adequate
hygiene
Refer to periodontist
Regular
maintenance
the problem, the options available for management, and

the consequences of each option. Collect and record adequate data, making periodontal probing an integral part of
the findings.
Additional Readings
Listgarten MA. Periodontal probing: what does it mean? J Clin Periodontol 1980;7:165.
Listgarten MA, Mao R, Robertson PJ. Periodontal probing and the relationship of the probe tip to periodontal tissues. J Periodontol
1976;47:511.
Vander Velden U. Influence of periodontal health on probing depth and
bleeding tendency. J Clin Periodontol 1980;7:120.
27
14
Types of Furcation Involvement

Walter B. Hall
In treating molar teeth, it is essential to differentiate three types

of furcation involvement on the basis of severity and to keep a
record of the observed data and the treatment decisions
involved. In general, a furcation is a common site for active bone
loss accompanying periodontitis. Some studies report that the
most common sites of recurrent periodontitis are the distal furcations on the maxillary first molars. Problems with plaque control in involved furcations may be explained by these differences.
A furcation is difficult for the dentist or dental hygienist to
instrument because it is shaped like a gothic arch with internal
flutings present on many roots. While the dentist may be able to
get an instrument to the base of a pocket, it may prove impossible to move the instrument effectively without gouging adjacent
root surfaces. Where maxillary molars exhibit root proximity, the
roots of adjacent molars are so close to each other as to prevent
the fit of an interproximal brush between the teeth, and thus
neither the dentist nor patient is able to clean the distal furcation
of the first molar. It is also impossible to insert an instrument into
the furcation from the facial and palatal aspects so as to allow it
to clear; therefore, the detection and recording of furcation
involvements are extremely important steps in developing a
treatment plan and for prognosis. The use of the newer fine
ultrasonic tips for cleansing such areas may be a good option.
An incipient furcation involvement (Class I) exists within

the following parameters: A detectable fluting is present
where a furcation begins or where the extent is such that a
catch in the furcation prevents the instrument from slipping out in one or two directions but not in all three directions (ie, coronally, mesially, and distally).
An incipient furcation involvement (Class I) is recorded on

the chart with a symbol placed in the appropriate furcation with the apex pointing coronally (Figure 14-1).
A definite furcation involvement (Class II) exists when a

catch of the inserted furca-finder definitely prevents the
instrument from slipping out when it is moved laterally or
coronally while definitely stopping it from going through
and through to another opening in the furca.
A definite involvement (Class II) is indicated by the symbol

similarly positioned (see Figure 14-1).
A through-and-through furcation involvement (Class III)

exists only where it is possible to insert the probe into one
furca and at that same place the probe is apparently able to
connect directly with one or more additional furcas.
As periodontal pockets are probed and charted, note and

record the involvement of furcations.
Explore all furcations with a no. 3 pigtail explorer or similar instrument (termed a furca-finder). Insert the instrument
into the crevice or pocket, rotate it to the interradicular
depth of the furcation involvement, and move it laterally
and coronally to determine whether (1) a definite catch
exists or (2) the instrument will slip out of the furcation in
any or all directions.
A through-and-through involvement (Class III) is indicated by placing the symbol in two or more furcas on a
tooth (see Figure 14-1). Class II furcation involvements
may be treated for guided tissue regeneration when they
involve 3 mm or more; the technique for guided tissue
regeneration in through-and-through furcation involvements is now the standard of care in the United States.
Additional Readings
Easley JF, Drennan GA. Morphological classification of the furca. Can
Dent Assoc J 1969;35:12.
Mosby; 1988. p. 921.
Heins PJ, Carter SR. Furca involvement: a classification of bony deformities. Periodontics 1968;6:84.
Febiger; 1990. p. 545.
Tarnow D, Fletcher P. Classification of the vertical component of furcation involvement. J Periodontol 1984;55:283.
Figure 14-1 Classes and appearance of furcation involvements, and

their respective symbol.
28
Patient being examined for FURCATION INVOLVEMENT
Probe
Use furca-finder
Assess:
No detectable
fluting or
furcation
Probe and/or
furca-finder
detect fluting
but no definite
catch
No marking
recorded
Probe and/or
furca-finder catch
when moved
coronally and
toward both
adjacent roots
Probe and/or
furca-finder go
directly between
roots, connecting
to another furca
Record on chart
Class I: incipient
furcation
involvement;
use symbol
Class II: definite

furcation
involvement;
use symbol
Class III: throughand-through

involvement,
use symbol
29
15
Differentiating Degrees of Mobility

Walter B. Hall
Degrees of mobility may be useful in developing a treatment plan

and making prognoses for periodontally involved teeth. Singletime measurements of mobility are of limited value (because
slight mobilities may represent little more than clenching or
pipe-stem chewing the night before the examination); however,
when they are repeated at regular intervals and a change occurs,
the alteration may be a significant finding that pinpoints a localized change or indicates an alteration in parafunctional habits
(eg, bruxism) that may affect the overall prognosis greatly.
A
Mobility is evaluated by placing an instrument on the facial

and lingual surfaces and a finger on the appearance side of
a tooth and applying pressure while rocking the tooth (Figure 15-1). If the tooth being tested has no adjacent tooth,
the instruments and pressure should be applied obliquely
and mesiodistally. A normal tooth has a minute amount
of give to it (ie, is not ankylosed). A tooth that moves
more than this minute amount but in a total arc of less than
1 mm has Class 1 mobility. A tooth that moves in an arc of
1 mm or more but less than 2 mm has Class 2 mobility. A
tooth that moves in an arc of 2 mm or more and can be
depressed into its socket has Class 3 mobility.
When a tooth is adjacent to an empty space, mobility
should be tested in oblique directions as well.
Mobilities are recorded on the chart in the crown of the

tooth at the initial examination. If repeated measurements
are made at various intervals, further records may be kept
in different colors in the tooth form or in appropriately
designated boxes. A marking should be made for each
tooth, even if it is normal. With an assistant reading the
findings, approach is more rapid and accurate; also, an
empty space has more than one interpretation legally. Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3) may be used to indicate degrees
of mobility.
Additional Readings
Hall WB. Clinical practice. In: Steele PF, editor. Dimensions of dental
hygiene. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1982. p. 153.
Miller SC. Textbook of periodontia. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Blakiston;
1943. p. 103.
Ramfjord S, Ash MM. Occlusion. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders;
1983. p. 309.
Schulger S et al. Periodontal diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger; 1990. p. 322.
Figure 15-1 An instrument handle and a fingertip being used to determine the degree of mobility of a tooth.
30
Patient being examined for DEGREES OF MOBILITY
A Rock tooth with an instrument

and a fingertip
Assess:
Degree of mobility
Minute or
no movement
Movement in
arc < 1 mm
B
Class 0 mobility
Class 1 mobility
Movement in
arc 1 mm
but < 2 mm
Movement in
arc 2 mm
and/or depressible
Record: Mobility
Class 2 mobility
Class 3 mobility
31
16
Radiographic Evaluation
Donald F. Adams
has lost more bone than its neighbor. A line is drawn connecting adjacent CEJs across an interdental space to determine whether tipped or extruded teeth have created the
illusion of angular bone loss. Some clinicians consider a
radiopaque interdental crest to be an indication of periodontal stability, whereas active disease results in a crest
that appears moth-eaten with a loss of opacity. This observation is controversial and susceptible to variability in radiographic angulation. Radiographs cannot determine the
activity of the disease, only its history. Changes in the continuity of the lamina dura and widening of the apical periodontal ligament indicate a possible endodontic involvement. Occlusal trauma can also result in a widened
periodontal ligament (PDL) and thickened lamina dura,
although the widening is also seen in the PDL along the lateral surfaces of the tooth. Trabeculation can also increase
with hyperfunction. In hypofunction the PDL becomes
atrophic and is narrower, along with a diminished lamina
dura. Some conditions, such as hyperparathyroidism, may
result in the loss of a distinct lamina dura. A variety of nonperiodontal conditions visible on radiographs may affect
the prognosis and treatment, including the proximity of the
maxillary sinuses to the alveolar crest, the proximity of the
root, the oblique ridge, and the anatomy of the tuberosity.
Radiographs are an indispensable aid in identifying the presence

of pathosis and the conditions that affect the prognosis and
treatment of periodontosis. As with pocket probing, there are
restrictions in interpretation. Exposure guidelines and processing procedures must be followed to achieve adequate contrast.
Proper angulation of the film and of the head of the x-ray
machine minimizes distortion. A properly placed radiograph has
few overlapping contact areas, and the entire tooth is visible on
periapical views. For periodontal purposes, it is useful to position bite-wing radiographs vertically so that both maxillary and
mandibular bone crests are visible. Individual periapical radiographs are superior in detail to panographic radiographs and
preferred for a more accurate analysis (Figure 16-1).
A
The bony crest is usually 1 to 2 mm apical to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) because of the attachment of collagen fibers immediately below the enamel. Clinical crownto-root (C:R) ratios are determined according to the
amount of root remaining in bone compared with the
amount of tooth above the bone level. If the level of the
bone is essentially equal across an interdental or interradicular area, it is called horizontal bone loss and measured as the
percentage of bone lost (eg, 20% of the original bone
height is lost). Angular bone loss occurs when one tooth
Figure 16-1 Radiograph suggesting two-walled defects (craters)

between the first molar and adjacent teeth and distal furcation involvement on the second molar (arrows).
32
Radiographs indicate the integrity of restorations that

could complicate periodontal maintenance. Discrepancies
in the marginal ridge and open contacts can predispose to
impaction of food. Improper margins and carious lesions
frustrate the plaque-control efforts of the patient,
whereas calculus and poor crown contours harbor plaque
and perpetuate the periodontal problem. Use radiographs
to assess the tooth position, the presence of caries in the
crown or furcation areas and along root surfaces, and the
condition of pulp chambers and canals. The size and
shape of the anatomic crown are compared with root
anatomy and the amount of bone support to determine
the stability of the tooth.
The number, shape, and proximity of roots are closely

related to the determination of prognosis and planning the
treatment. A tooth with the normal complement of roots
adequately spaced can more easily absorb occlusal loads. If
the roots are fused or widespread, the maintenance of periodontal health is somewhat easier than if the roots are only
slightly separated. On the contrary, widespread roots are
Patient for RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION
Assess:
Bone condition
Tooth condition
Root anatomy
Bone condition
Restorations:
Margin integrity
Overhang
Shy
Caries
Marginal ridges
Open contacts
Improper contours
Calculus
Condition of crest
Bone loss:
Cap (stable?)
Amount remaining
Moth-eaten
clinical C:R
(active?)
Type
Horizontal
Angular
(CEJ position)
Thickness,
PDL width
Lamina dura
Continuity
Tooth condition
Position:
Tipped
Rotated
Impacted
Extuded
Intruded
Narrow
Consider:
Occlusal trauma
Consider:
Atrophy
Hypofunction
Caries:
Crown
Root
Furcation
Pulp:
Stones
Chamber size
Canals
Obliterated
Filled (condition?)
Root anatomy
Crown:
Size and
shape vs
root anatomy
Nonperiodontal
Trabeculation:
Quality
Orientation
Consider:
Periapical lesion
Hyperparathyroidism
Wide
Radiolucency:
Oral pathology
Periapical
(endodontic)
Lateral
Periodontal or
endodontic cyst
Opacity:
Other:
Root tip
Incisive canal
Oral pathosis
Tuberosity
Foreign objects
Inferior alveolar canal
Condensing osteitis
Mental foramen
(endodontic)
Maxillary sinus
Normal structures
(proximity to roots,
Tori
alveolar crest)
Oblique ridge
Shape
Resorption:
Smooth
Orthodontic history
Rough
Periapical pathosis
Length:
Spindly
Bulky
Hypercementosis
Blunted
often close to roots of adjacent teeth, and this complicates

disease management. A radiolucency in a furcation area
may be the result of periodontitis, occlusal trauma, or pulpal necrosis draining through an accessory canal in the
chamber floor. Long, bulky roots provide more adequate
support in the presence of less bone than spindly, coneshaped roots. Radiographs show whether a root has hypercementosis or is curved (dilacerated). A smooth blunting of
root apices may be the result of orthodontic movement,
Curvature
(dilaceration)
Furcations:
Height
(trunk length)
Radiotranslucent
Number of roots
Spread
Fused
Proximity with
adjacent teeth
Consider:
Periodontitis
Pulpal necrosis
Occlusal trauma
whereas roughened apices may indicate the action of periapical pathosis.

Additional Readings
Prichard JF. Advanced periodontal disease. 2nd ed. Philadelphia:
WB Saunders; 1972. p. 142.
33
17
Interpreting Bone Loss on Radiographs

Walter B. Hall
A full series of radiographs from a patient should first be evaluated diagnostically, although no diagnoses of the bone status can
be definitive on the basis of radiographs alone. Radiographs are
only two-dimensional shadow pictures. Angulation, exposure
time, and development time are factors that may influence suggestions of bone loss when it is not present, not show bone loss
when it is present, or accurately portray the existing condition.
Facial and lingual bone status is masked by the interposed teeth.
Probing is the more definitive means of determining bony contours and is more likely to present an accurate picture than the
radiograph. The more views that are present, the better the clinician can conceptualize the actual bony status. The angulation
of individual films must be sufficient so that films can be read.
Facial and lingual cusps should be close to being superimposed
on the film if it is to be interpreted accurately. Roots should be
sufficiently separated so that interproximal bone levels are not
masked. If the existing films are inadequate, they should be
retaken; however, if one correctly angulated picture is present,
the value of retaking other views should be weighed against the
dangers of excessive radiation.
A
34
If the films are adequate, seek evidence of bone loss. If the

crest of bone interproximally is more than 1 mm apical to
the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), bone loss has occurred.
Such a finding does not indicate the presence of periodontal disease. Bone loss may be actively occurring or may
have occurred earlier and be in a static state at the time the
picture is taken. Bone loss also may represent bone
removed during osseous surgery.
If the bone crest appears to be about 1 mm from the CEJ on
the films, no radiographic evidence of bone loss can be
described; however, bone loss may be present facially or

lingually and not show or may be masked by existing cortical plates interproximally. Radiographs are only suggestive of existing bone status when the films were taken and
are not diagnostic of disease.
C
If bone loss is suggested on the films, it may be horizontal

or vertical in character, as seen on a two-dimensional
film. Horizontal bone loss is indicated when the bone loss
interproximally on two adjacent teeth is equidistant from
the CEJ on each tooth. Vertical bone loss is indicated when
the bone crest is more apical to the CEJ adjacent to one
tooth than to the other. A two-walled infrabony crater
also is considered a vertical defect (see Chapter 100). When
bone loss has occurred, periodontal disease has been and
may be present at the time the film is taken. Use probing
and the patients dental history to determine whether bone
loss is truly present and whether it represents existing or
quiescent periodontal disease.
Additional Readings
Grant DA, Stern IB, Listgarten MA. Periodontics. St. Louis: Mosby;
1988. p. 552.
Prichard JF. The role of the roentgenogram in the diagnosis and prognosis of periodontal disease. Oral Surg 1961;14:182.
Suomi JD, Plumbo J, Barbano JP. A comparative study of radiographs
and pocket measurements in periodontal disease evaluation.
J Periodontol 1968;89:311.
Worth HM. Radiology in diagnosis. Dent Clin North Am 1969;13:731.
Patient with RECENT FULL SERIES OF RADIOGRAPHS
Assess:
Adequacy of film quality
(angulation, roots not overlapped)
Inadequate quality
Retake radiographs
Adequate quality
No bone appears
to have been lost
between teeth
Evidence of bone loss (bone

level appears to be > 1 mm
apical to CEJ)
Bone level is about

1 mm apical to
CEJ between teeth
Determine:
Character of bone loss
Horizontal bone loss

(no angular defects
suggested)
Vertical bone loss

(angular defects
suggested)
Patient has or has had

periodontitis
Patient has or has had

periodontitis
Confirm suggested
picture from dental
history and via probing
Determine type of bone

defects suggested on
films (see Chapter 18)
Confirm suggested
picture via probing
35
18
Vertical Bone Defects

Walter B. Hall
olucency. With periapical films, angulation of individual

radiographs or malalignment of the teeth may result in a
two-dimensional picture in which such a defect is suggested
but not present. Confirm the presence of such a defect via
probing. When a crater is present, probing shows shallow
depths on the line angles of the proximal surfaces of the
adjacent teeth with greater depth interproximally. If such
findings are not apparent on probing, accept the probing
findings rather than the radiographic conclusions (eg, no
crater present). If probing confirms the radiographic suggestions, a two-walled infrabony crater is most likely present.
When the full series of a patients radiographs appears to indicate vertical bone defects, first evaluate the adequacy of the
films to ensure that the appearance of these defects is not simply an artifact of poorly angulated films. Roots should not be
overlapped; otherwise, existing angular defects may be
obscured. If the films do not meet these requirements, additional adequate films should be obtained before any conclusions
are drawn.
A
Vertical (angular) bone defects are suggested when the

bone crest is more apical to the cementoenamel junction
adjacent to one tooth than to the other. An infrabony crater
(a type of two-walled defect) also is considered a vertical
defect, although bone loss may not be greater on one tooth
than on the other.
A typical infrabony crater is present when bone resorption
has occurred between two adjacent teeth, with the greatest
loss under the contact area. Facial and lingual cortical plates
that extend more coronally remain. Viewed on a radiograph, two crestal heights are separated by a more radiolucent area. Periapical films are more likely to show such
crests than are bite-wing radiographs, on which superimposed facial and lingual cortical plates may obscure the radi-
When bone loss is greater on one tooth than on the other

(adjacent) one, a hemiseptal or one-walled defect may be
present. The radiograph will suggest that half the septum is
missing, as seen in Figure 18-1. No suggestion of a remaining facial or lingual wall coronal to the greatest bone loss
will be seen. Probe to confirm the suggested condition.
Bone loss is not more apical under the contact area than at
the line angles if a hemiseptal defect is present. Accept the
probing findings as correct if they differ from the picture
suggested by the radiographs.
When additional facial or lingual walls or both are suggested on the film, a two- or three-walled infrabony defect
may be present. If a third wall is present, two crestal heights
may be suggested, superimposed over the area of vertical
bone loss. The final differentiation of the two types of
defects must be made via probing. When pocket depth is
less on the facial or lingual line angle of the affected tooth,
but the bone loss under the contact area and at the other
line angle is deeper and similar, a two-walled defect is present. When the pocket depth at both line angles is less than
under the contact area, a three-walled defect is present.
Regard the findings on probing as correct if they differ from
the suggested radiographic picture.
Additional Readings
Figure 18-1 Hemiseptal (one-walled) defects are indicated by the

arrows on this radiograph.
36
Friedman N. Reattachment and roentgenograms. J Periodontol

1958;29:98.
Prichard JF. The diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease in general practice. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1979. p. 78.
Febiger; 1990. p. 299.
Patient whose RADIOGRAPHS SUGGEST PRESENCE OF ANGULAR DEFECTS
Assess:
Quality of film
(angulation, roots not overlapped)
Inadequate quality
Adequate quality
Retake radiographs
Vertical bone
defects suggested
Locate:
Vertical bone defects
Defects on two
adjacent teeth
Defects greater on one tooth

of an adjacent pair
C
B
Infrabony crater
(two-walled defect)
suggested
Hemiseptal
defect suggested
One-walled defect
suggested (see Chapter 99)
Additional walls
suggested
One other
wall
suggested
Two additional
walls
suggested
Probe to confirm suggested defect
No crater
located
Accept probing
finding as
correct
Shallow depths on
proximal line angles
with deeper defects
interproximally
Confirms that
defect is two
walled (crater)
(see Chapter 100)
No crater
located
Accept probing
finding as
correct
Shallow depths on
proximal line angles
with deeper defects
interproximally
One wall is against

adjacent tooth; the
other on the facial
or lingual
Confirms that
defect is two
walled (crater)
(see Chapter 100)
Confirms
two-walled
defect
(see Chapter 100)
Shallow depths
on proximal line
angles or affected
tooth with deeper
bone loss under
contact
Confirms
three-walled
defect
(see Chapter 100)
37
19
Use of Digital Radiographs in Periodontics

Thomas Schiff
The newest development in radiology is the replacement of

films with a sensor system. Two systems are available today, the
so-called CCD system (charged coupled devices) and the phosphorous storage plate system. The CCD system is attached
directly to a computer and thus gives instant images on a screen,
while the phosphorous storage plate system requires the plate to
be scanned into the computer and therefore takes extra time for
the formation of the image. This extra time is minimal, however, and in most cases it only takes between one and two minutes for the picture to develop. Use of the actual sensor is cumbersome because of its thickness and its attachment to wires,
whereas the phosphorous storage plates are thinner and easier
to place into the oral cavity.
The manufacturers of the CCDs provide positioning devices
that make their use easy and comfortable to patients.
This system utilizes a sensor connected to a computer with a
wire and allows instant imaging after exposure to minimal radiation. Due to the sensitivity of the CCD, the exposure time has
been continuously reduced, allowing patient exposure to be minimal indeed. New technologies now making super high-speed
films have reduced the CCD systems advantage of low exposure
to radiation. These new films are the Kodak F speed films
(INSIGHT). With no remaining differences between the films and
sensors as to the amount of radiation they need, the digital system is no longer a great advantage over the CCD. The one real
advantage is that the CCD image is viewable instantly on the
computer screen and its enhancement is possible utilizing the
38
software provided by the various manufacturers, allowing the

application of sophisticated technology to view the images and
adjust them to maximize correct diagnosis.
Printing of the images is critical, and only a few manufacturers of digital systems couple their system to good quality imaging. Kodak medical printing systems using their high-quality
paper provide acceptable images. Printing the images on plain
paper, however, will result in unacceptable images.
A
In an office that has both digital and traditional radiographic capability, a decision must be made whether the
product will be for in-office use only or for use in another
office, upon referral, as well. If the images are solely for use
in office, only digital systems offer the advantage of immediate viewing (no developing time needed) and enhancement of images as needed.
If the product is to be sent elsewhere, the quality of the

available digital image printer is a consideration. Unless
that printer will produce excellent images, the radiographic
system should be used, because only the very highest quality images are useful in periodontics.
If the available printer produces ideal images, the choice of

which capability to use would be up to the operator. For
example, some operators prefer to have all their images
stored in one system in their offices.
Patient for RADIOGRAPHIC OR DIGITALIZED IMAGES FOR PERIODONTAL USE
Determine: Are the images for in-office use

only or for use in another office, as well?
In-office only
B To send elsewhere
as well
USE DIGITAL
SYSTEM
Rationale: Images can be used

immediately or modified for
storage in-office
Decide:
Will available printer provide
excellent quality images?
No
USE RADIOGRAPHIC
SYSTEM
C Yes
OPERATORS
CHOICE OF SYSTEM
Rationale: Need highest

quality films to be useful
in periodontics
39
20
Overhanging Margin
Walter B. Hall
An overhanging margin on a periodontally involved tooth

makes plaque removal difficult to impossible (Figure 20-1). The
material of which the restoration was constructed is crucial in
deciding the best way to resolve this type of problem. Generally,
replacement of the defective restoration is the best approach. If,
however, the overhang is minimal and accessible, less expensive
alternatives such as smoothing out of the overhang or marginal
repairs may be acceptable options.
A
If the defective restoration is an amalgam that is basically

adequate and no new caries is involved, smoothing out the
overhang is the approach of choice. If the restoration is
grossly defective, involves new caries, or is inaccessible for
repair, it should be replaced.
If the restoration is a composite and the defect is minimal,

the overhang may be smoothed out and polished. If there
is a gross defect or new caries, the restoration should be
replaced because of the difficulty in doing acceptable repairs
to existing composites.
If the restoration is a gold inlay or onlay, it is cast in relatively soft gold. This type of gold pulls or flows when burnished with a rotating stone or polishing bur. If the defect
is minimal, the discrepancy can be burnished out; however,
if the defect is major and accessible for preparation and filling, the restoration should be replaced or a repair performed with foil or alloy.
If the overhanging margin is on a gold crown, the gold used

is harder and more difficult to pull. Only minimal discrepancies on gold crown margins are amenable to this
approach. If the defect is greater and the area is accessible
for preparation and filling, a repair may be performed.
Replacement of gold crowns with defective margins is the
approach of choice, but it is extremely expensive.
If the overhanging margin is on a gold-alloy crown, this

material is even harder and usually cannot be pulled. If the
defect is accessible, an alloy repair may be adequate; if not,
the crown should be replaced.
Additional Readings
Figure 20-1 An overhang on the distal surface of the maxillary first

molar.
40
Bjorn AL, Bjorn H, Grcovic B. Marginal fit of restorations and its relation to periodontal bone level. Odont Rev 1974;20:311.
Gilmore N, Sheiham A. Overhanging dental restorations and periodontal disease. J Periodontol 1971;42:8.
Renggli HH, Regolati A. Gingival inflammation and plaque accumulation by well-adapted supragingival and subgingival proximal
restorations. Helv Odontol Acta 1972;16:99.
Roderiques-Ferrer HJ, Stroham JD, Newman HN. Effect on gingival
health of removing overhanging margins of interproximal subgingival amalgam restorations. J Clin Periodontol 1980;7:457.
Schluger S, Yuodelis RA, Page RC. Periodontal disease. Philadelphia: Lea
& Febiger; 1977. p. 589.
Patient with OVERHANGING MARGIN ON TOOTH
Assess:
Material of defective restoration
Amalgam
Basically
adequate
No new caries
Grossly
defective
New caries
inaccessible
Composite
Minimal
defect
Smooth
out
Greater
defect
New caries
Replace
Gold inlay
or onlay
Minimal
defect
Greater
defect
Caries
Gold crown
Minimal
defect
Greater
defect
Caries
Gold-alloy
crown
Accessible
Inaccessible
Repair
Replace
Pull
margin
Pull
margin
Replace
Reduce
overhang with
diamond bur
Accessible
Inaccessible
Accessible
Inaccessible
Repair
Replace
Repair
Replace
41
21
Root Exposure
Walter B. Hall
column in which the position of the margin is described

numerically. If the free margin is consistent with the CEJ, it
is charted as a 0. If the margin is coronal to the CEJ, it is
described as an 11 or 12, for example. If recession has
occurred, it is charted as a 21 or 22, for example (Figure
21-2). This determination often is critical in deciding
whether surgical intervention is indicated. On surfaces
where a mucogingival junction (MGJ) is present (facially
and lingually in the lower arch but only facially in the upper
arch), its position should be recorded. Where 2 mm or less
of total gingiva (free margin to MGJ) is present, a pure
mucogingival problem exists, and the need for surgical
intervention in the overall treatment planning process for
the patient should be considered. In the newer, computercompatible charts, a line is used on which total millimeters
of gingiva can be entered (see Figure 21-1).
Root exposure is a common problem. Determining its etiology is

essential in deciding whether reparative or preventive periodontal procedures should be considered in treatment planning.
Much difference of opinion exists in the profession about the
need for reparative or preventive surgical intervention.
A
Recession may be localized or generalized. The etiologies of

the two may be quite different. All teeth should be inspected
for recession on facial and lingual surfaces. A line representing the true position of the free margin of the gingiva in
relation to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) on each tooth
should be drawn on the chart (Figure 21-1). If recession has
occurred, the number of millimeters of recession should be
recorded for future reference in determining whether the
recession is active or stabilized. This determination often is
critical in deciding whether surgical intervention is indicated. Some newer charting methods designed for computerization do not use tooth diagrams; instead, there is a
The skill of the dentist in eliciting the facts of a patients

dental history and the temporal placement of the events
in that history often are clues to the sequential development of recession. Frequently, the dentist must glean a
patients recollection of these events and their temporal
sequence through repetitive and incisive questioning. The
dentists knowledge of the typical sequencing of events in
the process of recession may be used to guide the patients
recollections (see Figure 21-2).
Injuries may occur in areas predisposed to recession by the

presence of inadequate attached gingiva (Figure 21-3) or
where adequate attached gingiva is present. Such injuries
may be the result of a direct wound (eg, from crusty bread)
or repeated bouts of gingivitis. Where inadequate attached
gingiva is present, root exposure frequently results. Where
Figure 21-1 A chart recording an area of recession on a lateral incisor.
Figure 21-2 A central incisor with inadequate attached gingiva and

recession.
42
Figure 21-3 Recession in an area of inadequate attached gingiva has

resulted in root exposure.
Patient with ROOT EXPOSURE
Recession detected
and charted
Decide: Is recession localized or generalized?
Localized recession
Injury
Predisposed
by pure
mucogingival
problem
Other
Restorative
procedures
Predisposed
by pure
mucogingival
problem
Other
Dental history
Vigorous use
of stiffer brush
Orthodontic
treatment
Surgical
procedures
ELECTROSURGERY
or
LASER SURGERY
Generalized recession
LOCALIZED
PERIODONTAL
SURGERY
Predisposed
by pure
mucogingival
problem
ADJACENT
EXTRACTION
Other
Restorative procedures such as subgingival use of a diamond bur, taking of an impression subgingivally, or cementation and polishing of a restoration often result in recession when inadequate attached gingiva is present, but far
less frequently do so when a broad band is present.
Surgical procedures such as subgingival root planing, softtissue curettage, periodontal flap approaches, or gingivectomy may produce localized recessions. Electrosurgery and
laser surgery often are a direct cause and may even create
pure mucogingival problems where none existed before
the procedure. The extraction of an adjacent tooth, especially if tissue displacement extends to adjacent teeth,
often is followed by localized recession on adjacent teeth.
Often it is dramatic when the adjacent tooth has little
attached gingiva. The dentists skills in drawing such information from the patients dental history are most important in this situation.
Generalized root exposure may result not only from events

similar to those already described but also from additional
factors. Vigorous use of a toothbrush, especially a stiffer
one, frequently results in generalized recession, which may
Treated
Untreated
Surgical
procedures
ELECTROSURGERY
or
LASER SURGERY
an adequate band of attached gingiva is present (unless the

wound is quite severe), healing usually occurs without
much, if any, recession.
Long-term
periodontitis
LOCALIZED
PERIODONTAL
SURGERY
be much more extensive on teeth with little attached gingiva (especially canines, first premolars, and mandibular
central incisors). Orthodontic treatment and consequent
changes in brushing technique may do the same. Most periodontal flap and gingivectomy procedures produce some
degree of root exposure with healing. So do electrosurgery
or laser surgery. Generalized root exposure usually is seen
after all pocket-elimination procedures. Repeated root
planing and the modified Widman flap also usually result in
root exposure. Long-term periodontitis, whether treated or
untreated, often results in generalized root exposure as
pocket formation progresses apically. The dentists skill in
eliciting these facts and placing them in a chronologic
sequence is important.
Additional Readings
Gartrell JR, Mathews DP. Gingival recession: the condition, process and
treatment. Dent Clin North Am 1976;20:199.
Gorman WJ. Prevalence and etiology of gingival recession. J Periodontol 1976;38:316.
Hall WB. Pure mucogingival problems. Berlin: Quintessence Publishing;
1984. p. 29.
Moscow BS, Bressman E. Localized gingival recession: etiology and
treatment. Dent Radiograph Photograph 1965;38:3.
43
22
Determining and Recording Occlusal Findings

Walter B. Hall
Occlusal findings should be recorded for all new periodontal

patients and rerecorded after occlusal adjustment. At recall visits,
if the mobility of a tooth changes or the patient develops symptoms of discomfort in a tooth in premature contact, the occlusal
examination should be repeated. If mobility, temporomandibular
joint symptoms, occlusal pain, furcation involvements, or grossly
widened periodontal ligaments are noted or extensive restorative
treatment is planned, occlusal adjustment should be considered.
There are several approaches to occlusal evaluation, but only one
is presented in this chapter.
A
The rearmost, uppermost, and midmost (RUM) position is

obtained by placing the dentists thumb on the incisal edges
of the lower teeth and tapping the teeth together first against
the thumb several times and then mandibular against the
maxillary teeth while exerting gentle posterior and upward
pressure against the chin. Alternatively, the dentist can sit
behind the patient and grasp the mandible with both hands,
gently retracting it and moving it occlusally with the thumbs
until two or more teeth can be tapped together. This initial
contact is recorded on the chart (Figure 22-1). Usually, the
patient can indicate the area of initial contact. The dentist can
check it by placing marking tape between the dried teeth and

tapping them together in the RUM position.
B
Next, the dimensions of the patients slide from centric relation (CR) contact to centric occlusion (CO), sometimes
termed maximum occlusion or acquired centric, is recorded. The
patients mouth is closed by the dentist to initial contact in
the RUM position, and the movement to CO in three planes
is recorded. The vertical, horizontal, and lateral translation
of the jaws in millimeters and the direction of any lateral
deviation of the mandible are recorded (see Figure 22-1).
Then the patient is asked to close in CO and slide the

mandible to the right while the teeth are in contact, until
the facial cusp tip to facial cusp tip position is reached.
Cross-arch balancing (nonworking) side contacts are
detected by placing tape on the balancing side and having
the patient slide the dried teeth from CO to the cusp-tocusp position on the working side. Then the tape is placed
on the right side and the process repeated, indicating working side contacts and cross-tooth contacts. These contacts
are recorded (see Figure 22-1).
Figure 22-1 A typical occlusal analysis charting form. Courtesy University of Pacific. Reproduced with permission from Hall WB, Roberts WE,
Labarre EE. Decision making in dental treatment planning. St. Louis: Mosby; 1994.
44
Patient for OCCLUSAL EVALUATION
Put patient in
RUM position
Record:
Initial contacts
Have patient close

in CR and slide to CO
Record:
Slide horizontally and vertically (mm)
Deviation of the mandible to left or right (mm)
Have patient close in

CO and slide to right
lateral (working) position
Record:
Balancing side contacts
Working side contacts

CO and slide to left
lateral (working) position
Record:
Balancing side contacts
Working side contacts

CO and slide to edgeto-edge position
Record:
Contacts
Determine need for

occlusal adjustment
(see Chapter 65)
Left lateral contacts are determined and recorded by repeating the previous procedure but having the patient slide
from CO to the left lateral position. These findings are
recorded (see Figure 22-1).
Finally, the patient is asked to close in CO with tape

between the dried anterior teeth and to slide anteriorly
until the incisal edges of the mandibular anterior and
maxillary anterior teeth are in contact in the edge-toedge position. If the maxillary anteriors are quite mobile,
gentle stabilizing pressure may be applied to their facial
surfaces with the fingers of the left hand so that they move
facially, leaving no contact marks from the marking tape
to indicate heavy contacts. These contacts are recorded
(see Figure 22-1).
The occlusal findings are used by the dentist, along with all
other examination findings, to determine whether any
occlusal adjustment would be beneficial (see Chapter 65).
Additional Readings
Mosby; 1988. p. 1003.
OLeary JJ. Tooth mobility. Dent Clin North Am 1969;13:567.
Ramfjord S, Ash MM. Occlusion. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders;
1983. p. 298.
Febiger; 1990. p. 318.
45
PART 6
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
23 Periodontal Health, Gingivitis, and Chronic (Adult) Periodontitis
Walter B. Hall
24 Periodontal Health versus Gingivitis and Periodontitis: The New World Heath
Organization Classification System
Walter B. Hall
25 Differential Diagnosis of Localized and Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis
Steven A. Tsurudome
26 Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis and Periodontics, and Chronic Periodontitis
Tamer Alpagot
27 Primary Acute Herpetic Gingivostomatitis
Tamer Alpagot
28 Primary versus Secondary Occlusal Trauma
Walter B. Hall
29 Diagnosis of Gingival Enlargement
William P. Lundergan
30 Pure Mucogingival versus Mucogingival-Osseous Problems
Walter B. Hall
31 Differential Diagnosis: Problems of Endodontic and Periodontal Etiology
Francisco Martos Molino
32 Differential Diagnosis among Periodontal Diseases Associated with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Gonzalo Hernndez Vallejo, Antonio Bascones, and Miguel Carasol
33 Diagnosis and Management of Periodontal Diseases Associated with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus
Tamer Alpagot
34 Desquamative Gingivitis
Alan S. Leider
35 Cracked Tooth Syndrome
Walter B. Hall
23
Periodontal Health, Gingivitis,

and Chronic (Adult) Periodontitis
Walter B. Hall
A differential diagnosis among periodontal health, gingivitis, and

periodontitis is begun by evaluating medical and dental histories. Older dental records and radiographs are especially helpful
in establishing current disease activity as gingivitis or periodontitis.* Because these diseases are active in spurts, past findings
are most helpful.
A
A visual examination usually follows history taking. The

gingiva may be inflamed, in which case there is marginal
and papillary swelling and redness, or magenta coloring, or
the gingiva may seem healthy, appearing pink, firm, and
probably stippled. Such an appearance, however, may mask
severe periodontitis. Gingiva that has become fibrotic as a
result of frequent episodes of inflammation and healing
may appear visibly healthy adjacent to deep pockets.
Probing should be performed regardless of the visual signs.

When the gingiva appears visibly inflamed, probing usually
reveals pockets with depths of 3 mm or more and bleeding.
Pocket depth alone is insufficient to make a diagnosis
between gingivitis and periodontitis. Swelling alone may
create pockets of considerable depth that bleed on probing.
A diagnosis of gingivitis can be made when redness and

swelling are present without loss of attachment (LOA). If
the probe reaches the root, LOA has occurred. When the
gingiva is red and swollen, pocket depths are present, and
LOA has occurred, a diagnosis of chronic adult periodontitis is most likely to be correct. However, when earlier LOA
and new localized swelling and redness have occurred, creating pocket depths, gingivitis could be a correct diagnosis.
Such situations often apply when patients are recalled after
successful treatment. Recurrent inflammation may be present unless the patient makes ideal oral-hygiene efforts.
When radiographs do not suggest active bone loss and
pockets are of minimal depth with evidence of swelling,
gingivitis may be an acceptable diagnosis. Fortunately,
in instances in which a decision is difficult to make, the
*Periodontitis occurs in at least six subgroups: adult, prepubertal (mixed

dentition), juvenile, rapidly progressive, necrotizing ulcerative, and
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) periodontitis.
46
differentiation may be more academic than practical,

because treatment would be the same anyway.
E
For a diagnosis of chronic adult periodontitis to be made,

three concurrent findings must exist: pocket depth, LOA,
and active bone loss. Radiographs can be helpful, but they
are susceptible to aberrations in film placement, machinehead angulation, exposure time, kilovoltage used in taking
the radiograph, and variability in developing technique.
Radiographs alone, therefore, are never diagnostic; other
findings must be considered. Fuzzy crestal bone may indicate active bone loss, but fuzziness can be created easily on
radiographs from healthy patients, as already described.
Series of radiographs taken at different times are more
likely to yield a correct diagnosis; they should, however, be
taken and prepared identically to be diagnostic. If inflammation, pocket depth, and LOA are present and radiographs suggest active bone loss, periodontitis is most likely
the correct diagnosis.
In instances with no visible signs of inflammation, periodontal health can be differentiated from chronic adult
periodontitis on the basis of the absence of pocket depths
greater than 3 mm. If the probe does not extend to the
roots and radiographs indicate no bone loss, periodontal
health is an appropriate diagnosis. LOA may result from
earlier periodontitis, and radiographic evidence of bone loss
may exist, but the combination of no pocket depth and no
signs of inflammation suggests periodontal health. Without
the visible signs of inflammation, gingivitis would not be a
correct diagnosis.
Additional Readings
American Academy of Periodontology. Proceedings of World Workshop
in Clinical Periodontics. Princeton: The Academy; 1989. p. 133.
Parr RW. Examination and diagnosis of periodontal disease. Washington
(DC): Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare (US); 1977. DHEW
Pub. No. (HRA) 7436.
Prichard JF. Advanced periodontal disease. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: WB
Saunders; 1972. p. 116.
Worth HM. Radiology in diagnosis. Dent Clin North Am 1969;13:731.
Patient needing DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AMONG PERIODONTAL HEALTH,

GINGIVITIS, AND CHRONIC (ADULT) PERIODONTITIS
A Visual examination
Marginal and papillary

swelling and redness
Gingiva appears
pink and firm
B Probe: Pocket depth
Pocket depth
3 mm
Pocket depth
3 mm
No LOA
Crevice depth
13 mm only
Assess: LOA
LOA
LOA
No LOA
LOA
Assess: Radiography for bone loss
Shows no
bone loss
D Shows no active
bone loss
Garden variety
gingivitis
E Suggests active
bone loss
Suggests active
bone loss
Chronic (adult)
periodontitis
Suggests no
bone loss
Suggests no
active bone loss
Periodontal
health
47
24
Periodontal Health versus Gingivitis and Periodontitis:

The New World Health Organization Classification System
Walter B. Hall
In the new World Health Organization (WHO) classification of

periodontal diseases, loss of attachment (LOA) has replaced
pocket depth as the most pertinent finding, along with the presence or absence of clinical signs of inflammation, in making a
differential diagnosis among periodontal health, gingivitis, and
periodontitis. Systemic disease and specific infections can modify the subgroupings of each diagnostic situation. The differentiation process described herein deals only with a systemically
healthy individual.
A
Clinical signs of inflammation include color change (from

pink to reddish or magenta color), swelling (edema), and
bleeding or suppuration on probing. When none of these
findings is present, a tooth, a segment of teeth, or an entire
dentition can be termed healthy. When any of these findings is present, either gingivitis or periodontitis is present.
Attachment loss may be assessed visually, radiographically,

or tactilely (by probing or exploring). Measuring and
recording pocket depths remain critical means of chronicalling periodontal disease status, but measurements (estimates) of LOA are the means by which gingivitis and periodontitis are differentiated in the WHO system. When
inflammation is present but LOA has not occurred, the
48
diagnosis is gingivitis. When both LOA and inflammation

are present, the diagnosis is periodontitis.
C
Periodontal health exists when clinical signs of inflammation are absent. When LOA is absent as well, the diagnosis
would indisputably be health. However, when LOA has
occurred but inflammation is absent, to many the correct
diagnosis would be periodontal health with a history of previous periodontal disease.
In the WHO classification system, periodontitis in systemically healthy patients may be chronic or aggressive in
nature. At an initial examination, the rate of progression of
the disease cannot be determined and must be deduced.
Patient history, age, and various dental findings on radiographs may be helpful in making the differentiation.
Repeated examinations are the means of proving the
deduction.
Additional Readings
Wilson TG, Kornman KS. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 195200, 204, 205, 212, 2258.
World Workshop in Periodontics. Ann Periodontol 1996;1:216.
Systemically Healthy Patient for PERIODONTAL DIAGNOSIS
A Assess: Is inflammation present or not?
Not present
Present
Assess: LOA?
Yes
No
Periodontal
health with
history of
periodontitis
Periodontal
health
Inflammatory
periodontal disease
Assess: LOA?
Yes
No
Periodontitis
Gingivitis
Assess: Evidence of
earlier disease or not?
Yes
No
Assess: Evidence of rapidly

developing disease?
(pus, severe inflammation)
No
Yes
Chronic
periodontitis
Aggressive
periodontitis
49
25
Differential Diagnosis of Localized

and Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis
Steven A. Tsurudome
Aggressive periodontitis continues to be an evolving classification of periodontitis as a result of advances in the areas of microbiology and immunology. Due to the recent changes in the classification system for the periodontal diseases and conditions, the
terms juvenile periodontitis and rapidly progressive periodontitis have
been discarded because they are considered to be age dependent
or require knowledge of rates of progression.
The clinical criteria that represented the disease category of
generalized juvenile periodontitis and localized juvenile periodontitis
are now classified as generalized aggressive periodontitis and localized aggressive periodontitis, respectively. The clinical criteria that
represented the disease category of rapidly progressive periodontitis are now classified as generalized aggressive periodontitis or
chronic periodontitis.
Even though the terms have changed, the distinguishing factors between these new categories still involve the age of onset,
the rate and severity of the destruction of periodontal tissue, differences in host response, and the types of subgingival bacterial
flora that are characteristic to this group.
A
Radiographically, patients with localized aggressive periodontitis usually show bilaterally symmetric, rapid severe
vertical bone loss and loss of attachment (LOA) of 4 mm or
greater in the permanent first molar and incisor regions
(Figure 25-1). Generalized aggressive periodontitis is characterized by rapid severe bone loss and LOA of 4 mm or
greater around most of the teeth.
In aggressive periodontitis cases, the onset of this disease

usually occurs around puberty and is more prevalent in
females than males (3:1). Aggressive periodontitis may
have a familial distribution in that it may be inherited as an
X-linked dominant or an autosomal recessive trait.
In localized aggressive periodontitis, the bacterial flora may

be dominated by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in combination with Bacteroides intermedius, Capnocytophaga
ochraceus, and Eikenella corrodens. In generalized aggressive
periodontitis, the bacterial flora may also include B. gingivalis.
In aggressive periodontitis the patients host response may

be expressed in terms of a depressed neutrophil chemotaxis
response to bacterial infections or as a random migration of
neutrophils.
Classically, aggressive periodontitis is characterized as a disease process whereby the rapid rate and severity of the
periodontal destruction is not consistent with the clinical
findings of minimal plaque accumulation and scarcity of
clinically visible severe gingival inflammation.
The diagnosis of generalized or localized aggressive periodontitis requires immediate modification to the periodontal treatment plan. Because of the significance of the bacterial flora in
aggressive periodontitis, systemic antibiotic therapy in conjunction with scaling and root planing is recommended.
Surgery may be considered for greater access for root dbridement. The tetracyclines have been effective in treating both
forms of aggressive periodontitis, as has a combination of
amoxicillin and metronidazole; however, antibiotic susceptibility testing of the subgingival bacterial flora is recommended
if there is any uncertainty regarding which antibiotics to prescribe. Because of the aggressive, complex, and advanced
nature of both localized and generalized aggressive periodontitis, referral to a periodontal specialist is recommended.
Additional Readings
Figure 25-1 Deep, vertical bone defects mesial to first molars are typical of localized aggressive periodontitis (formerly juvenile periodontitis).
50
American Academy of Periodontology. Proceedings of the World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics. Princeton: The Academy; 1989.
Armitage GC. Development of a classification system for periodontal
diseases and conditions. Ann Periodontol 1999;4:1.
Carranza FA, Newman MG. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1996. p. 33841.
Kornman KS, Robertson PB. Clinical and microbiological evaluation of
therapy for juvenile periodontitis. J Periodontol 1985;56:443.
Krill DB, Fry HR. Treatment of localized juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis): a review. J Periodontol 1987;58:1.
Patient with EVIDENCE OF SEVERE RAPID BONE LOSS
Full-mouth radiographic evaluation
Generalized
Localized to first molars and

incisors (bilaterally symmetric)
Clinical LOA
4 mm
Clinical LOA
4 mm
Puberty
Puberty
Early 20s
A. actinomycetemcomitans
B. intermedius
C. ochraceus
Black-pigmented
B. intermedius,
Neutrophil random
migration response
Neutrophil random
migration response
Severe gingival inflammation

without excessive plaque
and calculus
Severe gingival inflammation

with heavy plaque
and calculus
Clinical findings
Minimal plaque/lack of
severe gingival inflammation
Minimal plaque/lack of
severe gingival inflammation
Localized aggressive
periodontitis
Generalized aggressive
periodontitis
Black-pigmented
B. intermedius,
Assess: Host response
Depressed neutrophil
chemotaxis response
Late 20s/early 30s
Assess: Bacterial flora
B. intermedius
C. ochraceus
Depressed neutrophil
chemotaxis response
Assess: Age of onset
Generalized aggressive
periodontitis
Generalized chronic
periodontitis
Treatment/referral to specialist
Mandell RL, Socransky SS. Microbiological and clinical effects of surgery

plus doxycycline on juvenile periodontitis. J Periodontol 1983;59:373.
Page RC et al. Clinical and laboratory studies of a family with a high
prevalence of juvenile periodontitis. J Periodontol 1985;56:602.
Page RC et al. Rapidly progressive periodontitis: a distinct clinical condition. J Periodontol 1983;54:197.
Suzuki JB. Diagnosis and classification of the periodontal diseases. Dent
Clin North Am 1988;32:195.
51
26
Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis

and Periodontitis, and Chronic Periodontitis
Tamer Alpagot
exposure with possible sequestration, deep jaw ache, fetor

oris, and the patient is febrile with malaise. If untreated,
NUP can develop into necrotizing stomatitis (NS),which
can be potentially life threatening. NS is characterized by
massively destructive, ulcerative infection extending
beyond the mucogingival junction into contiguous palatopharyngeal or mucous tissues.
Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) is an acute inflammatory

disease of the gingiva and may affect the deeper periodontal tissues, becoming a form of periodontitis (NUP). It has been suggested that specific microorganisms such as Bulleidia extructa,
Dialister spp, Fusobacterium spp, Streptococcus spp, Veillonella spp,
as well as certain predisposing factors may play a significant role
in the pathogenesis of NUG/NUP.
A
Several predisposing factors have been identified for the

development of NUG/NUP; bacterial plaque, poor oral
hygiene, and preexisting gingivitis are among them. The
prevalence of NUG/NUP is higher in patients with poor oral
hygiene than in individuals who have good oral hygiene.
Stress conditions, socioeconomic status, smoking, and
altered host resistance are contributing factors in the pathogenesis of NUG/NUP. Assess the signs and symptoms associated with these diseases.
NUG is characterized by rapid-onset, gingival pain, craterlike necrosis of interdental papillae without loss of attachment (LOA) and covered by a gray pseudomembrane, gingival hemorrhage, metallic taste, and bad breath (fetor
oris) (Figure 26-1). The gingival lesions may be localized or
generalized. The lesions are more common in the anterior
than the posterior region of the mouth. Early in the course
of the disease, the ulceration in the tip of the papillae may
be obscured by the edema and swelling. Once the lesion
develops, the affected area may have an eroded, punchedout appearance. It has been proposed that NUG progresses
into NUP, which is characterized by severe pain, gingival
bleeding, extensive soft-tissue necrosis, severe LOA, bone
As with any periodontal lesions, the removal of plaque and

debris from the site of infection is critical. Because the patient
may have significant pain, a complete root planing and scaling is usually not initially feasible. However, a generalized
dbridement of the affected areas can be facilitated by irrigation with 3% peroxide diluted 50% with warm water. The
next phase of the office treatment is to evaluate the need for
chemotherapeutic agents as adjunctive therapy. If fever,
severe necrosis, and exposure of bone or severe pain are present, antibiotic coverage is usually required. Metronidazole,
250 mg four times daily for 5 days, is the drug of choice. In
addition, 0.12% chlorhexidine oral rinse for home use twice
daily can be prescribed. Following resolution of the acute
inflammation, meticulous scaling and root planing can be
instituted in several visits. Finally, after therapy is completed,
the long-term management of these patients must be considered including the pocket-elimination procedures.
Differential diagnosis must be made among NUG/NUP, herpetic gingivostomatitis, and aphtous stomatitis. NUG/NUP
may be a predictor for immune deterioration and the diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Additional Readings
Figure 26-1 Severe, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP).
52
Caton J. Periodontal diagnosis and diagnostic aids. In: American
Acdemy of Periodontalogy. Proceedings of the World Workshop in
Clinical Periodontics. Princeton: The Academy; 1989. p. 122.
Falker WJ, Martin S, Vincent J, et al. A clinical, demographic and microbiologic study of ANUG patients in an urban dental school. J Clin
Periodontol 1987;14:307.
Glick M, Muzyka BC, Salkin LM, Lurie D. Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis: a marker for immune deterioration and a predictor for
the diagnosis of AIDS. J Periodontol 1994;65:393.
Melnick SL, Roseman JM, Engel D, Cogen RB. Epidemiology of acute
necrotizing gingivitis. Epidemiol Rev 1988;10:191211.
Russell MK, Alpagot T, Boches SK, et al. Bacterial species and phylotypes
in necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis [abstract #1050]. J Dent Res
2001;80:167.
Patient with PAIN, GINGIVAL REDNESS, AND SWELLING
Assess: Pain and gingival tissue characteristics
Pain, swelling, and/or redness

of gingival tissues
No pain, swelling, and/or

redness of gingival tissues
Assess: Periodontal status
No LOA
LOA
C Assess: Patients clinical symptoms
Papillary necrosis
and/or cratering
Extreme odor
Easy gingival bleeding
Metallic taste
Possibly enlarged cervical
lymph nodes
Possibly elevated
temperature
Rare in children
Bacterial etiology
No definite duration
NUG
Diffuse erythema and

vesicular eruption
No extreme odor
No easy gingival bleeding
No metallic taste
Possibly enlarged cervical
lymph nodes
Possibly elevated
temperature common
in children
Viral etiology
Duration of 710 days
Papillary necrosis and/or

cratering
Extreme odor
Easy gingival bleeding
Metallic taste
Enlarged cervical lymph
nodes
Possibly elevated
temperature
No papillary necrosis
and/or cratering
No extreme odor
No metallic taste
No enlarged cervical
lymph nodes
No elevated temperature
HERPETIC GINGIVOSTOMATITIS
or APHTHOUS STOMATITIS
NUP
CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS
Consider:
HIV status
53
27
Primary Acute Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

Tamer Alpagot
rounded by a red halo (Figure 27-1). Patients have generalized soreness in their mouth that interferes with eating
and drinking. The ruptured vesicles are very sensitive to
touch and thermal irritants. They usually remain 7 to
10 days, but may last 14 days. Herpetic lesions may also
occur on the face or the lips. Systemic signs may include
fever, cervical adenitis, and malaise. Differential diagnosis
of acute herpetic gingivostomatitis must be made with
necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis/periodontitis (NUG/NUP),
erythema multiforme, and aphthous stomatitis.
Acute herpetic gingivostomatitis is an infection of the oral cavity caused by the herpes simplex type 1 virus. This contagious
condition occurs frequently in infants and children younger
than 6 years of age. A compromised immune system is a predisposing factor. It is commonly seen following recent acute infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, influenza, typhoid, infectious mononucleosis, and stress conditions.
A
In its early stage, it is characterized by the presence of

spherical gray vesicles on the gingiva, the oral mucosa, the
soft palate, the pharynx, and the tongue. After approximately 24 hours, these vesicles rupture and form painful
ulcers, which appear as grayish-white craterlike lesions sur-
The treatment of herpetic gingivostomatitis includes palliative measures to make the patient comfortable during
the course of the disease. Supragingival scaling will reduce
gingival inflammation. Extensive periodontal therapy
should be postponed until the acute symptoms subside.
Topical anesthetic mouthwashes enable the patient to eat
comfortably. Some limited success with the use of acyclovir ointment has been reported. Supportive measures
include intake of liquid nutritional supplements and systemic antibiotic therapy for the treatment of toxic systemic complications.
Additional Readings
Carranza FA Jr, Newman MG. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 255, 481.
Grant D, Stern I, Everett F. Periodontics. 6th ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 1988.
p. 413.
Regezi JA, Sciubba JJ. Oral pathology: clinical-pathologic correlations.
Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1989. p. 255, 481.
Figure 27-1 Gingival lesions of acute primary herpetic gingivostomatitis.
54
Patient with GENERALIZED MOUTH PAIN
Assess: Soft-tissue status
Swelling and/or
redness of
intraoral tissues
Swelling and/or redness of

gingival tissues only,
necrotizing condition
Assess: Lesion morphology

and distribution
Gingival cratering
No gingival cratering
NUG, NUP
PLAQUE-INDUCED
GINGIVITIS
Discrete, painful intraoral

mucosal/gingival ulcerations
No swelling and/or
redness of intraoral
tissues
CONSIDER:
MYALGIA
No discrete, intraoral
mucosal/gingival ulcerations
Localized lesions
Generalized lesions
Single, white, cratered

lesion with red halo
Multiple, white, cratered

lesions with red halo
CONSIDER:
ALLERGY BURN
Assess: Patient statussigns and symptoms
Painful to touch
No easy bleeding
No metallic taste
No diffuse erythematous
involvement of gingiva
APHTHOUS ULCER
Elevated temperature
Painful to touch
No easy bleeding
No metallic taste
Diffuse erythematous
Assess:
Involvement of lesions
Painful to touch
No easy bleeding
No metallic taste
No diffuse erythematous
APHTHOUS STOMATITIS
More extensive
Usually accompanied
by skin lesions
Less extensive
No skin lesions
ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME
HERPETIC GINGIVOSTOMATITIS
Palliative and supportive therapy including acyclovir if severe
55
28
Primary versus Secondary Occlusal Trauma

Walter B. Hall
Two general types of occlusal trauma must be distinguished

before making a treatment plan. Primary occlusal trauma is diagnosed when a tooth or teeth with normal support are overloaded, producing symptoms of looseness or discomfort. Secondary occlusal trauma is diagnosed when a tooth or teeth that
have lost support develop symptoms of looseness or discomfort
when overloaded or loaded normally (ie, a load that would not
produce symptoms if normal support were present). The treatment differs with the type of occlusal trauma diagnosed.
A
56
Several signs and symptoms are indicative of occlusal

trauma. Primary among them is tooth looseness. Others
include vague to severe pain, especially when faceting of
occlusal surfaces is present and the muscles of mastication
are sensitive to digital manipulation. Generalized tooth sensitivity often relates to clenching and grinding habits (bruxism). Faceting is indicative of hyperfunction; however, after
a facet has developed, it remains even if one of the antagonistic teeth is lost.
The key means of differentiating primary and secondary
occlusal trauma is determining whether bone loss has
occurred (secondary) or not (primary). If an exposed root is
evident visually, bone has been lost. Where a probe is able
to touch the root of an affected tooth, bone has been lost.
Radiographically, evidence of bone loss is speculative unless
the loss of bone is quite advanced; this is because of variations in factors such as angulation, film development time,
and the kilovoltage applied that may give misleading
impressions of bone loss or its absence. If bone loss has
occurred around involved teeth, the correct diagnosis is
secondary occlusal trauma.
Other clinical findings at the time of examination may be

helpful in making the differential diagnosis. If the patient
has or has had moderate-to-severe periodontitis or is aware
of a clenching-and-grinding habit (bruxism), secondary
occlusal trauma is the more likely diagnosis.
If a high restoration (particularly a new one) is present, a

periapical abscess is diagnosed. If the patient admits to a habit
such as nail biting or pipe-stem clenching and bone loss is not
evident, primary occlusal trauma is the more likely diagnosis.
Both types of occlusal trauma may be localized or generalized. Primary occlusal trauma is more likely to be localized,
whereas secondary occlusal trauma is more likely to be
generalized. Localized problems can be treated with minimal effort (eg, selective grinding, splinting). Generalized,
moderate-to-severe, secondary occlusal trauma might benefit from occlusal correction, but a bite guard or extensive
splinting may be necessary.
Additional Readings
Febiger; 1990. p. 125.
Patient with PRIMARY AND/OR SECONDARY OCCLUSAL TRAUMA
Patient with loose teeth
Assess:
Pain
Faceting
Bone loss
Clinical history
Habits
Bone loss
(visible on probing
and/or radiograph)
Habitual clenching
and grinding (bruxism)
B No bone loss
(not visible on probing
and/or on radiograph)
Moderate-to-severe
periodontitis
High
restoration
Secondary occlusal
trauma
Periapical
abscess
Habits (nail biting,

pipe-stem clenching)
Primary occlusal
trauma
Generalized
problem
Localized
problem
Night
guard
Selective
grinding
Assess: Degree of problem
Generalized
problem
Night
guard
Localized
problem
Selective
grinding
57
29
Diagnosis of Gingival Enlargement

ondary local factors can include calculus, poor dental restorations, caries, tooth crowding or misalignment, open contacts
with food impaction, orthodontic braces, mouth breathing,
and removable appliances. Systemic factors include vitamin
C deficiency, leukemia, and hormonal changes that occur
during pregnancy or puberty or are associated with the use
of oral contraceptives. If no local or systemic factors can be
identified, the enlargement may be neoplastic and a biopsy
should be considered to establish or confirm a diagnosis.
Gingival enlargements are a common feature of inflammatory

periodontal disease. These enlargements can also represent an
endodontic problem, a response to a medication or genetic factor, or a neoplasia. A differential diagnosis requires thorough
medical and dental histories, a careful evaluation of the nature
of the enlargement (inflammatory vs fibrotic), and an identification of the etiologic factors. Occasionally, a biopsy specimen
may be required to confirm a diagnosis.
A
Inflammatory gingival enlargements are characterized by

swelling or edema, redness, and a tendency to bleed upon
periodontal probing. Longstanding inflammatory enlargements can have a fibrotic component as well. A patient history helps establish the inflammatory enlargement as acute
or chronic. Chronic enlargements are generally painless
and slow to progress, whereas acute enlargements are characterized by a painful, rapid onset.
Localized gingival swelling characterized by acute pain of
rapid onset suggests an abscess. Involved teeth should be
probed for periodontal pocket formation and loss of attachment (LOA). Radiographic evaluation and pulp testing
should accompany the periodontal examination. If no
pocket formation with LOA is detected, and the tooth is
vital, treat the problem as a gingival abscess. If pocket formation with LOA is detected, and the tooth is vital, treat
the problem as a periodontal abscess. If the tooth is nonvital or partially nonvital, an endodontic problem exists.
Endodontic therapy is indicated if warranted by the periodontal prognosis and overall treatment plan.
A localized or generalized gingival enlargement that is relatively painless and gradual in developing may be classified as
a chronic inflammatory gingival enlargement. Chronic
inflammatory gingival enlargements are generally associated
with identifiable systemic or local factors. The primary local
factor associated with these enlargements is plaque. Sec-
A gingival enlargement that is inflammatory and fibrotic

can represent an enlargement that was initially fibrotic
with secondary inflammation or an enlargement that was
initially inflammatory but has become secondarily fibrotic.
Medical and dental histories should suggest or rule out
hereditary and drug-induced fibrotic enlargements. If the
family and drug histories are negative, the clinician can
assume that the enlargement is inflammatory.
Fibrotic gingival enlargements are characterized by pink,

firm, and lobulated gingivae; however, secondary inflammation can result in a red coloration and an increased ten-
Figure 29-1 Phenytoin sodium hyperplasia.
58
Figure 29-2 A, Gingival enlargement related to taking cyclosporine.

B, Gingival enlargement related to taking Dilantin sodium. Clinically these
two gingival enlargements cannot be differentiated. The patients history
permits the diagnosis.
Patient with GINGIVAL ENLARGEMENT
Inflamed
gingiva
Inflamed and
fibrotic gingiva
Negative family
or drug history
Gingiva neither
inflamed nor
fibrotic
Positive family
or drug history
Acute enlargement:
painful, rapid
onset with
localized swelling
of the gingiva
Chronic enlargement:
Ppainless, slow
progression with
localized or generalized
swelling of the gingiva
Identifiable
systemic and/or
local factors
Assess:
Periodontal probing
Radiography
Pulp testing
No LOA or
bone loss
Fibrotic
gingiva
Positive
drug
history
Positive
family
history
Negative
drug and
family
history
No identifiable
systemic and/or
local factors
Drug-induced
gingival
enlargement
(hyperplasia)
Chronic inflammatory
gingival enlargement
LOA and
bone loss
Hereditary
gingival
fibromatosis
Tooth
vital
Tooth nonvital,
periapical
radiolucency
Tooth
vital
Tooth nonvital,
periapical
radiolucency
GINGIVAL
ABSCESS
ENDODONTIC
PROBLEM
PERIODONTAL
ABSCESS
PERIODONTAL
AND ENDODONTIC
PROBLEM
dency to bleed. A definitive diagnosis can generally be

established with thorough medical and dental histories.
Drug-induced gingival enlargements (Figures 29-1 and
29-2) have been associated with phenytoin. The incidence
varies from less than 1% and as high as 50% for these medications. There is evidence that concurrent administration
of nifedipine and cyclosporine has a synergistic effect on
the incidence of gingival enlargement. A diagnosis of druginduced gingival enlargement can be made if the development of the fibrotic enlargement coincided with the administration of one of these medications and the family history
is negative for hereditary gingival fibromatosis.
A rare fibrotic gingival enlargement of unknown etiology
is hereditary gingival fibromatosis. The diagnosis is suggested
by a positive family history of gingival enlargement, which
generally begins with the eruption of the primary or permanent dentition. A fibrotic gingival enlargement that does not
NEOPLASM
(BIOPSY)
seem to be drug induced or familial may be neoplastic or a

secondarily fibrotic inflammatory enlargement. If a definitive
diagnosis cannot be established from the patient history and
clinical examination, a biopsy specimen may be required.
F
An enlarged gingiva that is neither inflammatory nor fibrotic

and does not have identifiable systemic or local etiologic factors may represent a neoplasm. A biopsy specimen with
microscopic evaluation is needed to establish or confirm a
diagnosis.
Additional Readings
Lundergan WP. Drug-induced gingival enlargementsdilantin hyperplasia and beyond. J Calif Dent Assoc 1989;17:48.
Newnan MG, Carranza FA Jr, Takei HH. Carranzas clinical periodontology. 9th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2001.
59
30
Pure Mucogingival versus Mucogingival-Osseous Problems

Walter B. Hall
Mucogingival problems, which involve the relationship of alveolar mucosa and gingiva, may be divided into pure mucogingival
problems and mucogingival-osseous problems. Pure mucogingival problems are caused by a tooth erupting into prominence at
or near the mucogingival junction (MGJ) so that little or no
attached gingiva is present over the prominence of the fully
erupted tooth. These may be existing problems, where recession
has already occurred, or potential problems, where they are predisposed to recession only. Mucogingival-osseous problems are
caused by pockets so deepened with periodontitis that little or no
attached gingiva remains. These problems have different etiologies, and their treatment may be different; it is therefore most
important to differentiate between them properly at diagnosis.
A
60
Determine and record the position of the free margin of the

gingiva for all teeth. If the free margin is on the crown of
the tooth, no visible recession has yet occurred. If the free
margin is on the root of the tooth, recession has occurred
already. In probing for the location of the free margin on
the crown, the probe may reach only to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) or may extend to the root surface, in
which case loss of attachmen has occurred already.
Determine and record the location of the MGJ on all facial
surfaces and on the lingual surface of mandibular teeth.
The distance from the free margin of the gingiva to the MGJ
is a measure of the total amount of gingiva on the surface

of a tooth. If 2 mm or less of total gingiva is on a surface, a
pure mucogingival or potential problem is present, whether
the free margin of the gingiva is on the crown or root of the
tooth because there is always a crevice of at least 1 mm. If
more than 2 mm of total gingiva is present, a differential
diagnosis cannot be made with only these data.
C
If more than 2 mm of total gingiva is present, measure the

pocket depth to differentiate further between pure
mucogingival and mucogingival-osseous problems. If the
crevice depth is less than 3 mm, arbitrarily (but with reasonable accuracy) diagnose the problem as an existing or
potential pure mucogingival problem and treat it as such. If
the pocket depth is 3 mm or greater, diagnose the problem
as inflammatory and treat it as a mucogingival-osseous
problem. If more than 2 mm of total gingiva and more than
1 mm of attached gingiva are present, and the free margin
is still on the crown, it is not a mucogingival problem of
either type.
Additional Readings
Hall WB. Pure mucogingival problems. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1984. p. 61.
Patient with PURE MUCOGINGIVAL OR MUCOGINGIVAL-OSSEOUS PROBLEM
A Determine: Position of free margin of gingiva
On crown
of tooth
On root
of tooth
Determine: Position of bottom of pocket or crevice
At CEJ
On root
On root
B Determine: Position of MGJ
> 2 mm
of gingiva
2 mm
of gingiva
2 mm
of gingiva
> 2 mm
of gingiva
> 2 mm
of gingiva
Existing or
potential pure
mucogingival
problem
2 mm
of gingiva
Existing or
potential pure
mucogingival
problem
C Measure: Pocket depths
3 mm depth
Mucogingival-osseous
problem
< 3 mm depth
< 1 mm of
attached
gingiva
Potential
pure
mucogingival
problem
> 1 mm of
attached
gingiva
Not a
mucogingival
problem of
either type
< 3 mm depth
1 mm of
attached
gingiva
3 mm depth
Mucogingival-osseous
problem
Potential or
existing pure
mucogingival
problem
61
31
Differential Diagnosis: Problems of Endodontic

and Periodontal Etiology
Francisco Martos Molino
lished for it. In some cases, the influence of pulpal pathology

may create periodontal pathology. In others, periodontal
pathology may create pulpal pathology. Pulpal pathology is
confined to the periapical region. If the pathology extends
toward the gingival crevice, it could give rise to periodontal
pathology. Treatment of the pulpal problem may eliminate
both problems in such instances. Another way in which the
pulpal pathology may affect the periodontium is through
lateral canals, especially in the furcas of the molars. Controversy remains as to whether periodontal disease can cause
pulpal pathology through the lateral canals. When the
integrity of the dentinal tubes is violated, bacteria can penetrate here. The opening of lateral canals during periodontal
scaling and root planing is another way that pulpal pathology may occur. Pulpal pathology can originate through the
apex in advanced periodontal disease and may be reflected
in the radiographs. In combined lesions, treat the pulpal
pathology and then the periodontal problem.
Differentiating between periodontal and endodontic problems

can be difficult. A symptomatic tooth may have pain of periodontal and/or pulpal origin. The nature of that pain often is the
first clue in determining the etiology of such a problem. Radiographic and clinical evaluation can further clarify the nature of
the problem.
A
62
A sharp pain that is irreducible indicates, in the beginning,

a diagnosis of pulpitis. If there is no pain and the pulpal
vitality tests are negative, a necrotic pulp exists, and it will
be susceptible to endodontic treatment. The presence of
large carious lesions and restorations may help in differentiating the nature of the problem. Cellulitis noted during
exploration of the alveolar mucosa and the vestibulae may
mean that there is an abscess whose origin is pulpal
pathology. A fistula in the gingival crevice or vestibular
zone usually indicates pulpal pathology. In the radiologic
evaluation, a radiolucent zone at the apex or in the area of
the furca in the molars suggests a pulpal problem susceptible to endodontic treatment.
Sharp pain and a positive pulpal test may indicate a periodontal abscess, especially if it is accompanied by cellulitis
or a fistula in the adjacent alveolar mucosa or gingiva.
Sharp pain may also exist in necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) or necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP).
NUG or NUP usually affects more than one tooth. Slight or
no pain suggests periodontitis or periodontal disease associated with pocket depth generally affecting several teeth.
Bleeding upon probing, suppuration, gingival recession,
diastema, and radiographic evidence of generalized bone
loss establish a diagnosis of periodontal disease, which
needs periodontal treatment.
A periodontal pocket accompanied by other signs or symptoms of periodontal disease accompanying a pulpal alteration (pulp not vital) indicates a combined lesion (the endoperio or perio-endo syndrome). Treatment is needed for
each lesion; endodontic problems usually are treated first.
The presence of both lesions may be by chance, and each
lesion should be treated according to the diagnosis estab-
Sharp, fleeting pain increasing with lateral pressure or

occlusion is a sign of a fracture in the tooth that may be
diagnosed radiographically when the fracture is complete.
Transillumination may be helpful if the root is visible or
with visualization after tissue has been flapped. Old
endodontics or big restorations with posts or pins also suggest a radicular fracture. Treatment of the vertical fractures
depends on the localization and severity of the fracture.
Tooth extraction may be necessary.
Additional Readings
Kirkman DB. The location of an incidence of accessory pulpal canals in
periodontal pockets. J Am Dent Assoc 1975;91:353.
Mazur B, Massler M. Influences of periodontal disease on the dental
pulp. Oral Surg 1964;17:592.
Simring M, Golberg M. The pulpal pocket approach: retrograde of periodontics. Periodontology 1964;35:22.
Stahl SS. Pathogenesis of inflammatory lesions in pulp and periodontal
tissues. Periodontics 1966;4:190.
Patient with TOOTH PAIN OR NO PAIN
Clinical exploration and radiography
Determine:
Nature and character of pain
Pain
Irreducible
No pain:
Negative pulp test
Pulpitis:
Carious lesions
Restorations of
various types
Cellulitis
Necrotic
pulp
Endodontic
abscess:
Fistula
X-ray films
Bone loss on
the furcation
ENDODONTIC
THERAPY
No pain or
slight pain
Pocket depths with

loss of attachment
Periodontal pocket on
the facial side in
incisors
Gingival recession
Bleeding on probing
Suppuration
X-ray films
Generalized bone loss
Pain:
Positive pulp test
Periodontal
abscess
Food impaction
Trauma (occlusion)
NUG or NUP
PERIODONTAL
THERAPY
Periodontal
pocket
+
Pulpitis or
necrotic pulp
PULPAL
PERIODONTAL
DISEASE
THERAPY:
ENDO-PERIO
or
PERIO-ENDO
Pain
On pressure
Positive pulp test
X-ray films:
Radiograph shows
only apical defect
Fracture lines
vertically in root
THERAPY:
EXTRACTION
63
32
Differential Diagnosis among Periodontal Diseases Associated

with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Gonzalo Hernndez Vallejo, Antonio Bascones, and Miguel Carasol
Several periodontal manifestations of human immunodeficiency

virus (HIV) infection have been described since 1987. These periodontal conditions seem to differ from what is observed in conventional chronic periodontitis and gingivitis, but controversy
remains as to the prevalence of these diseases. Although the
microbiota associated with HIV periodontal disease are essentially the same as those in non-HIV-associated periodontal diseases, other pathogenic mechanisms, such as an altered response
in inflammatory mediators in patients with HIV infection may be
responsible for their development. Elevated viral load levels correlate with oral disease prevalence, and CD4 cell counts also are
associated with some periodontal conditions.
Periodontal changes associated with HIV infection have
been extensively reviewed, and different diagnostic criteria
have been used or proposed, accompanied by constant changes
in the nomenclature and definitions. Although it is widely recognized that these periodontal lesions may have clinical characteristics that differentiate them from conventional diseases, the
lack of specific criteria to accurately define them has delayed the
understanding of their true nature. The occurrence of such specific criteria and the predictive value of some of these clinical
characteristics would be of great value as indicators of the disease. Recently, some studies have assessed the validity of some
diagnostic criteria for HIV-associated periodontal changes in
order to distinguish between this condition and conventional
periodontitis, although these new criteria need to be validated
in wider samples.
According to the classification and diagnostic criteria used
for oral lesions in HIV infection, several periodontal entities may
be considered as lesions strongly associated with HIV. These
include the HIV gingivitis (linear gingival erythema), HIV necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG), and HIV necrotizing ulcerative
periodontitis (NUP). Plaque-associated gingivitis and chronic
periodontitis may also be observed in HIV infections, but they are
indistinguishable from those conditions in noninfected patients.
A
The HIV-infected patient complaining of a periodontal

problem must be evaluated according to the principles of
Figure 32-1 LGE in a young, female HIV-seropositive intravenous drug

abuser.
64
basic periodontal evaluation. The first step is to check for

periodontal loss of attachment (LOA) and determine
whether the involvement is gingival or periodontal. Evaluation of the clinical characteristics of the gingiva, analysis of
several important symptoms, general status, and bone
examination usually provide enough information.
B
Gingivitis associated with dental plaque may appear in HIV

infection and is indistinguishable from typical gingivitis
appearing in noninfected patients. Response to local treatment is good.
The appearance of gingiva with atypical clinical features constitutes a condition defined as HIV-associated gingivitis, or linear gingival erythema (LGE), which is associated today with a
Candida infection. Clinical characteristics include a fiery red
band along the border of the gingiva 2 to 3 mm apical to the
gingival margin, accompanied in some instances by a
petechial or diffuse erythema affecting the attached gingiva.
No ulceration, pocketing, or LOA is observed (Figure 32-1).
These lesions may be generalized, or they can be limited to
one or two teeth. No correlation exists between the amount
of plaque observed and the severity of the inflammation.
Bleeding on probing is not frequent. LGE does not respond
effectively to standard periodontal therapy. Antifungal therapy may be prescribed if Candida is identified. Progression to
HIV-associated periodontitis has been observed, although
longitudinal studies do not support this progression.
Involvement of the gingiva with necrosis or destruction of

one or more interdental papillae and no LOA can be an early
feature in HIV infection and should alert the clinician to a
diagnosis of NUG, which is quite similar to that observed in
noninfected patients. Clinically, the gingiva appears red and
swollen, with a white-yellow band of necrosis limited to the
marginal gingiva. Destruction of the papillae and gingival
necrosis lead to crater formation in the interdental areas,
spontaneous bleeding, severe pain, and typical fetor oris.
Figure 32-2 NUP affecting the lower anterior teeth in a 29-year-old,

female HIV-seropositive intravenous drug abuser receiving triple antiviral therapy.
HIV-positive patient with a PERIODONTAL PROBLEM
Assess: Periodontal attachment
No LOA
LOA
Assess:
Gingival characteristics
Symptoms (local and general)
Bone involvement
Progression
Plaque/calculus
Free gingiva
Attached gingiva
Necrosis
Band erythema
Gingival redness
Ulceration
Bleeding
Interdental cratering
Tooth mobility
Pocketing
LOA
Bone exposure
Radiographic changes
Gingival pain
Type of pain
Fetor ex oris
Treatment response
Progression
+
Involved
Noninvolved
Discrete or ()
Local
Good
Slow
+/
Involved
Involved
+
++
+/
+/
Local
Bad
Uncertain
++
Involved
Involved
++ (Gingiva)
+
++
++
+
+++
Generalized
++
Unpredictable
Rapid
+
+/
Noninvolved
+/
+/
+
+
+
+/
Local
Good
Consider aggressive
periodontitis
++
Involved
Involved
Bone/gingiva
+
+++
+++
+
+
+/
++
+
++
+++
Gingiva/bone
++
Unpredictable
Rapid
HIV GINGIVITIS
LINEAR MARGINAL
ERYTHEMA
NUG
CHRONIC
PERIODONTITIS
AGGRESSIVE
PERIODONTITIS
PLAQUEINDUCED
GINGIVITIS
Anterior gingiva is most commonly affected, and no periodontal pockets are observed.
E
Periodontal LOA in HIV-positive patients with uninflamed

or inflamed gingiva suggests chronic periodontitis or
aggressive periodontitis, changes that are indistinguishable
from those affecting noninfected patients. Changes in the
clinical characteristics of the gingiva may appear depending on the progression of the disease (inflammation severity) and quality of the gingiva (fibrous/edematous). Periodontal pockets of widely varying depths are present.
Spontaneous bleeding may occur, especially during exacerbation of the problems associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
LOA with or without pocket formation, accompanied by
gingival redness, necrosis, ulceration, profuse bleeding, and
pain, are diagnostic for NUP, which probably represents an
advanced stage of NUG. Progression is rapid, with gingival
and bone destruction, leading in some instances to great
LOA, tooth mobility, and severe bony lesions. Deep pockets
are rarely seen when gingival and bone necrosis occur
simultaneously (Figure 32-2).
NUP
Intense pain and fetor oris are important clinical symptoms

caused by soft-tissue ulceration and necrosis. Deep pain in the
jawbones is common and may be an initial clinical marker
of the disease. Bone sequestration may be a finding in
this condition. The rapid progression, together with extensive
destruction, may produce loosening of the affected teeth.
Additional Readings
Armitage GC. Development of a classification system for periodontal diseases and conditions. Ann Periodontol 1999;4:1.
Barr CE. Periodontal problems related to HIV-1 infection. Adv Dent Res
1995;9:147.
Patton LL. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of oral
opportunistic infections in adults with HIV/AIDS as markers of
immune suppression and viral burden. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral
Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2000;90:182.
Robinson PG. Which periodontal changes are associated with HIV infection? J Clin Periodontol 1998;25:278.
Scheutz F, Matee MI, Andsager L, et al. Is there an association between
periodontal condition and HIV infection? J Clin Periodontol 1997;
24:580.
65
33
Diagnosis and Management of Periodontal Diseases

Associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Tamer Alpagot
Periodontal diseases have long been associated with patients

who have immune system disorders, such as those who are
seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), taking immunosuppressive medications (eg, cyclosporine), or
have severely uncontrolled diabetes. In HIV-positive patients,
the periodontium often exhibits diffuse, marginal erythema,
and this is classified as linear gingival erythema (LGE). These
lesions are not proportional to the amount of supragingival
plaque, and they do not respond well to conventional treatment. Despite the poor response to therapy, LGE must be
treated with scaling and root planing, oral hygiene instruction (OHI), and chlorhexidine mouth rinse.
Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) is an acute
inflammatory disease of the interdental papillae without loss
of attachment (LOA) and covered by a gray pseudomembrane. The other clinical findings include gingival hemorrhage, metallic taste, and fetor oris. NUG may affect the
deeper periodontal tissues, becoming a form of necrotizing
ulcerative periodontitis (NUP), which is characterized by
severe pain, gingival bleeding, extensive soft-tissue necrosis,
severe LOA, bone exposure with possible sequestration,
deep jaw ache, and fetor oris; the patient is febrile with
malaise (Figure 33-1). If untreated, NUP can develop into
necrotizing stomatitis (NS), characterized by massively
destructive, ulcerative infection extending beyond the
mucogingival junction into contiguous palatopharyngeal or
mucous tissues. It has been suggested that specific microorganisms such as Bulleidia extructa, Dialister spp, Fusobacterium
spp, Streptococcus spp, Veillonella spp, as well as certain predisposing factors such as poor oral hygiene and preexisting gingivitis, stress, altered host response, smoking, and socioeconomic status may play a significant role in the pathogenesis
of NUG/NUP.
The following laboratory test results assist in the diagnosis and management of HIV-positive patients: peripheral
CD4+ lymphocyte count (normal: 5441663 cells/mm3);
CD4+/CD8+ ratio (normal: 0.934.5); total and differential
white blood cell count (normal: 4,50010,000 cells/mm3);
platelet count (normal: 150,000400,000 mm3); bleeding
time (normal: 27 min); and international normalized ratio
(INR) test (normal: 23). If the platelet count is less than
60,000/mm3, precautions to prevent excessive bleeding are
indicated and may necessitate platelet infusions. An INR
test score of >3 can also indicate that there may be excessive bleeding with therapy.
B
The initial treatment of NUG/NUP in HIV-positive patients

consists of scaling and irrigating the affected area with 10%
povidone-iodine, followed by systemic use of metronidazole (250 mg four times daily for 5 days) to eliminate
anaerobic microorganisms. OHI should be emphasized with
the adjunctive use of 3% peroxide diluted 50% with warm
water and 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinse twice daily.
Because the patient may have significant pain, an extensive
root planing and scaling is usually not initially feasible. Following resolution of the acute inflammation, meticulous
scaling and root planing can be instituted in several visits.
Finally, after therapy is completed, the long-term management of these patients must be considered, including
pocket-elimination procedures.
In immunocompromised HIV patients, preexisting periodontitis may be exacerbated, and thus HIV infection can
be considered a modifier of chronic periodontitis. The treatment of chronic periodontitis in HIV-positive patients consists of aggressive scaling and root planing, reevaluation,
and pocket-elimination procedures.
Additional Readings
Glick M. Dental management of patients with HIV. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1994.
Greenspan JS, Greenspan D. Oral manifestations of HIV infection.
Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1995.
Murray PA. Periodontal disease in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus. Periodontology 2000. 1994;6:50.
Kinane DF. Periodontitis modified by systemic factors. Ann Periodontol
1999;4:54.
Russell MK, Alpagot T, Boches SK, et al. Bacterial species and phylotypes in necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis, J Dent Res 2001;80:
167 (abstract #1050).
Figure 33-1 Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP) associated with

HIV infection.
66
HIV-positive patient with PAIN, GINGIVAL REDNESS, AND SWELLING
A Assess: Immunosuppression, clinical signs, and symptoms
Assess: Periodontal status
Asymptomatic erythematous
banding on marginal gingiva
Pain, gingival bleeding

Papillary necrosis, bad breath
Metallic taste, possibly elevated
temperature and enlarged
cervical lymph nodes
No LOA
LOA
Infection in the
periodontium
LGE
OHI
Scaling / root planing
Chlorhexidine rinse
NUG
No pain
No papillary necrosis
No bad breath and metallic taste
LOA
Infection beyond
the periodontium
NUP
Irrigation with povidone-iodine

Limited scaling and root planing
Metronidazole 250 mg qid 5 days
Chlorhexidine and peroxide rinses
OHI
NS
Chronic
periodontitis
OHI
Scaling / root planing
Reevaluate in 1 week
Several visits for root planing
C Assess: Re-evaluate response
Consider: Supportive periodontal therapy / pocket-reduction procedures
67
34
Desquamative Gingivitis
Alan S. Leider
Desquamative gingivitis is not a disease per se, but represents a

clinical manifestation of a broad spectrum of mucocutaneous disorders. These may range from a relatively innocuous localized
condition involving only the gingiva to a more severe, systemic,
life-threatening disease affecting extensive areas of the skin and
oral mucosa. Clinically, desquamative gingivitis is characterized by
a generalized diffuse erythema of the free and attached gingiva
(Figure 34-1) with areas of vesiculation, erosion, and/or desquamation. It affects women more often than men; most patients are
middle-aged or older. The differential diagnosis includes specific
mucocutaneous dermatoses such as benign mucous membrane
pemphigoid (BMMP), erosive (bullous) lichen planus, pemphigus
vulgaris, erythema multiforme, linear immunoglobulin (Ig) A disease, and a nonspecific group of hormonal or idiopathic origin. Distinction among these entities is based on the presence or absence of
eye, skin, or other mucosal lesions, as well as on the histopathologic
and immunopathologic findings. A definitive diagnosis requires a
biopsy with or without immunofluorescent studies.
mucous membrane (cicatricial) pemphigoid. A routine

biopsy specimen displays a subbasal epithelialconnective tissue split (Figure 34-3). Immunofluorescent studies show linear basement membrane deposits of IgG and complement
(C3) (Figure 34-4). Although oral lesions may be painful and
annoying, eye involvement is more serious and may result in
blindness. Treatment consists of topical and/or short-term
use of systemic steroids.
B
A patient exhibiting desquamative gingivitis with vesiculobullous and erosive lesions of other oral-mucosal tissues and
conjunctival eye lesions (Figure 34-2) probably has benign
Desquamative gingivitis in a patient with other oral erosions and peripheral zones of white reticulated striae is suggestive of erosive lichen planus. Cutaneous lesions may be
present and appear as scaly keratotic and pruritic plaques
on an erythematous base. They are usually observed on the
extensor surfaces of the extremities. A biopsy specimen
exhibits a subbasal split with a subepithelial, bandlike lymphocytic infiltrate. Globular deposits of C3 and fibrinogen
are seen in the basement membrane with immunofluorescent testing of the submitted tissues. Treatment with topical
steroids, such as 0.05% fluocinonide in a protective emollient, usually controls the painful erosive and desquamative
lesions, but usually will not affect the white components.
Figure 34-1 Desquamative gingivitis with generalized diffuse erythema

of the free and attached gingiva.
Figure 34-3 Routine histopathologic section of BMMP showing a subbasal epithelialconnective tissue split.
Figure 34-2 BMMP with scarring of the conjunctiva of the eye.
Figure 34-4 Immunofluorescent sections of BMMP with linear basement membrane deposits of IgG and C3.
68
Patient with DESQUAMATIVE GINGIVITIS
Hormonal/idiopathic
(no skin, eye, or
other mucosal lesions)
Specific mucocutaneous
vesiculobullous/erosive dermatoses
(other oral and/or eye and/or skin lesions)
Biopsy with/without
immmunofluoresence
Eye and/or other

mucosal lesions
Skin and/or other

oral mucosal lesions
Skin and/or other

oral mucosal lesions
Skin, lips, and/or

other mucosal lesions
Subbasal split;
linear basement
membrane deposits
of IgG and C3
Subbasal split:
bandlike lymphocytic
infiltrate; globular
basement membrane
deposits and C3
and fibrinogen
Suprabasal epithelial
split; intercellular
IgG deposits
Subbasal and suprabasal

split (nonspecific);
negative immunofluorescence
BMMP
Treat with topical

and/or transient
systemic steroids
Biopsy with/without
immmunofluoresence
Erosive (bullous)
lichen planus
Pemphigus
vulgaris
Treat with
topical steroids
Treat with long-term

systemic steroids
and/or immunosuppressive drugs
Desquamative gingivitis in a patient with extensive large

bullous and erosive lesions throughout the oral mucosa and
skin may suggest pemphigus vulgaris. A bullous lesion may
be elicited by rubbing uninvolved oral mucosa or skin. This
result is referred to as Nikolskys sign and is characteristic
for pemphigus, but it may also be observed in all the other
desquamative lesions under discussion. A suprabasal
epithelial split is seen on a routine biopsy examination, and
immunofluorescence exhibits intercellular IgG deposits.
Long-term therapy with systemic steroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs is the treatment of choice. Early diagnosis and initiation of therapy are important in these patients
to prevent death from dehydration and septicemia.
Extensive hemorrhagic-crusted lesions of the lips; erythematous circular iris or target lesions on the skin; a wide variety of
intraoral, erythematous, and vesiculoerosive lesions, in conjunction with desquamative gingivitis are highly suggestive of
erythema multiforme. When this condition affects the oral
mucosa, skin, conjunctiva of the eyes, and external genitalia,
it is referred to as Stevens-Johnson syndrome. A biopsy
specimen demonstrates a nonspecific suprabasal and subbasal
epithelial split, and immunofluorescent studies are generally
negative. Erythema multiforme may represent an allergic
mucositis, which is often associated with sulfa drugs, or it may
be of idiopathic origin. Treatment consists of short-term (transient) systemic steroids and supportive symptomatic therapy.
Desquamative gingivitis in a patient with pruritic vesiculobullous skin lesions, ocular lesions, and/or perineal involvement may be indicative of linear IgA disease. This is a
chronic autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder seen in mid-
Erythema multiforme
(allergic mucositis)
Treat with transient

(short-term)
systemic steroids
Skin, face, eyes

perineum, and/or
other mucosal lesions
Gingival lesions only
Subbasal split;
linear basement
membrane deposits
of IgG and fibrin
Linear IgG
disease
Treat with long-term

sulfapyridine with
or without systemic
steroids
Subbasal split; negative

immunofluoresence
Nonspecific chronic
desquamative
gingivits
Estrogens and/or
symptomatic
treatment only
dle age or later with a female predilection. A biopsy specimen shows a subbasal epithelialconnective tissue split.
Immunofluorescent studies demonstrate linear deposits of
IgA and fibrin in the basement membrane. Patients usually
respond to systemic corticosteroids.
F
A patient with desquamative gingivitis without any other

lesions or systemic symptomology should be suspected of
having nonspecific, chronic desquamative gingivitis of hormonal or idiopathic origin. Although in many cases this represents an early stage of BMMP, a biopsy shows a subbasal
epithelialconnective tissue split, and immunofluorescence
is completely negative. Most of these patients are postmenopausal women, and the treatment of choice is estrogens and/or symptomatic therapy only. Patients should
avoid spicy or acidic foods, and a palliative mouthwash with
elixir of diphenhydramine hydrochloride and activated attapulgite may alleviate the discomfort.
Additional Readings
Daniels TE, Quadia-White C. Direct immunofluorescence in oral
mucosal disease. Oral Surg 1981;51:38.
Eversole LR. Clinical outline of oral pathology: diagnosis and treatment.
3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1992. Ch. 5.
Porter SR, Bain SE, Scully CM. Linear IgA disease manifesting as recalcitrant desquamative gingivitis. Oral Surg 1992;74:179.
Rogers RS III, Sheridan PJ, Nightingale SH. Desquamative gingivitis:
clinical, histopathologic, immunopathologic, and therapeutic
observations. J Am Acad Dermatol 1982;7:29.
69
35
Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Walter B. Hall
When a patient with a periodontal problem complains of pain

localized to one tooth, especially if this is triggered by heavy
function, investigate the possibility that the tooth may be
cracked (Figures 35-1, 35-2, and 35-3). If a tooth is cracked
superficially, the symptoms may be controlled by crowning
that tooth. Selective grinding may be helpful temporarily, but
fractures tend to spread within teeth, making crowning the
safest long-term solution to controlling these problems. If the
crack is symptomatic, it may be extending to involve the pulp.
If the crack is deep already, endodontics may be helpful. If the
tooth has been treated endodontically and is now symptomatic, the crack may be affecting the periodontal ligament.
When a crack is contiguous with a deep pocket, the prognosis for the tooth is guarded at best, and therapy should be
planned with this in mind.
A
When a tooth with a periodontal pocket is painful, an

endodontic involvement must be ruled out before periodontal surgery is performed. Regardless of whether the
tooth is vital or nonvital to electrical pulp testing or to hot
and cold, new periapical radiographs should be obtained
and evaluated for evidence of periapical radiolucencies. The
radiographs should be evaluated visually, and the tooth with
a fiberoptic light source for cracks. The fiberoptic light stops

at the plane of a crack where the light is refracted, and no
glow of light extends to other parts of the tooth if the crack
extends to the pulp. If an intraoral television system is available, this device may visualize the crack even better (Figure
35-4). The tooth should be tapped and pressed in various
directions against each cusp to elicit the sharp, brief twinge
of pain that is symptomatic of a cracked tooth.
B
If a symptomatic tooth tests vital, a radiograph may still suggest an endodontic problem. If no evidence of a crack (visual
or symptomatic) can be elicited, use selective grinding to
minimize trauma. The tooth should be observed for several
months to determine that symptoms have disappeared
before any periodontal surgery is undertaken. If evidence of
a crack can be elicited, an orthodontic band should be
cemented to minimize the likelihood of the cracks spreading. The dentist and patient should decide together to perform endodontic therapy promptly or wait and see whether
symptoms subside before undertaking periodontal surgery.
If a symptomatic tooth tests vital and has no evidence of periapical radiolucency, examine it for cracks or crack symptoms.
If no evidence of a crack is elicited, use selective grinding and
Figure 35-1 An endodontically treated first premolar with a vertical

crack and resulting deep periodontal defect.
Figure 35-3 A cracked tooth.
Figure 35-2 A vertical periodontal defect resulting from a cracked tooth.
Figure 35-4 Intraoral fiberoptic video picture of a tooth with a clearly

visible vertical crack.
70
Patient with POCKET DEPTH AND LOCALIZED PAIN OR TWINGES OF PAIN IN A TOOTH
Determine: Pulpal status
Vital
Nonvital
A Assess: Radiographs
Evidence of
apical
radiolucency
No evidence
of apical
radiolucency
Evidence
of apical
radiolucency
No evidence
of apical
radiolucency
Examine for cracks or crack symptoms
Evidence
of crack
Cement
orthodontic band
No evidence
of crack
Selective grinding
and continue to
observe
Evidence
of crack
Cement
orthodontic band
or stainless
steel crown
Evidence
of crack
Cement orthodontic
band
Endodontic therapy
Decide whether to proceed

with endodontic therapy
No evidence
of crack
Endodontic
therapy
Evidence
of crack
Cement
orthodontic band
Endodontic therapy
(or delay if
patient insists)
Assess use of PERIODONTAL SURGERY
Evidence of deep crack in root
PARTIAL AMPUTATION,
HEMISECTION, or EXTRACTION
observation for several months before any periodontal procedures are undertaken. If evidence of a crack can be elicited,
cement an orthodontic band or stainless steel crown to minimize fracture spread before periodontal surgery.
D
If a symptomatic tooth tests nonvital, this may be confirmed

by a radiographic periapical radiolucency. If so, examine the
tooth for cracks. If no evidence of a crack can be elicited, complete endodontic treatment promptly before periodontal
surgery is undertaken. If evidence of a crack is found, cement
an orthodontic band to its crown to minimize fracture spreading. The dentist and patient should agree to initiate endodontic treatment promptly or wait and see. If symptoms do not
subside, endodontics should be undertaken before periodontal surgery. If symptoms subside, periodontal surgery can be
undertaken with full recognition that an endodontic flare-up
could be precipitated, necessitating prompt treatment.
If a symptomatic tooth tests nonvital and radiographic evidence of a periapical radiolucency is not found, evaluate the
tooth for evidence of a crack. If no evidence of a crack can
be elicited, the tooth should be treated endodontically
before periodontal surgery is performed. If evidence of a
crack can be elicited, cement an orthodontic band to the
crown and perform endodontic treatment before periodontal surgery is undertaken.
When periodontal treatment is undertaken in any of these situations, a crack extending down the root where attachment
has been lost may become visible. After the area has been
dbrided, use the fiberoptic light source or intraoral television
to search for cracks. If a deep crack is found, the tooth may
have to be extracted, one root of a multirooted tooth may be
amputated (in maxillary molars), or the tooth may be hemisected (in mandibular molars). If a patient elects not to have
such a tooth extracted, the dentist should carefully document
the patients choice and advise that keeping the tooth is risky.
Additional Readings
Cameron CE. The cracked tooth syndrome: additional findings. J Am
Dent Assoc 1976;93:971.
Eahle WS, Maxwell EH, Braly BV. Fractures of posterior teeth in adults.
J Am Dent Assoc 1986;12:215.
Hiatt WH. Incomplete crown-root fracture. J Periodontol 1973;44:369.
Maxwell EH, Braly BV. Incomplete tooth fracture: prediction and prevention. Calif Dent Assoc 1977;5:51.
Ritchey B, Mendenhall R, Orban B. Pulpitis resulting from incomplete
tooth fracture. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1957;10:665.
Turp JC, Gobett JP. The cracked tooth syndrome: an elusive diagnosis. J
Am Dent Assoc 1996;127:1502.
71
PART 7
PROGNOSIS
36 Developing a Prognosis
Walter B. Hall
37 Hopeless Teeth
Walter B. Hall
PART 7 Prognosis
36
Developing a Prognosis
Walter B. Hall
The most difficult decision process for the treating dentist

involves making a correct long-term prognosis for a patient with
a significant periodontal problem. The prognosis is influenced
by many complex factors.
A
Age is a significant factor in the prognosis. In general, the

younger the patient with a given periodontal problem is,
the poorer the prognosis. Also, the more rapidly the problem develops, the poorer the prognosis.
The skills and experience of the treating dentist have a significant influence on the prognosis. A dentist with limited
skills should refer significant periodontal problems; however,
if the patient demands that the dentist treat the problem,
the dentist with limited skills must recognize that the prognosis will not be as good.
The medical status of the patient is of critical importance to

the prognosis. Major medical problems that can and do
adversely affect periodontal problems include the following: impaired immune system, poorly controlled diabetes,
use of medicines that may induce hyperplasia (see Chapter
29), heart or blood pressure problems, and clotting problems or use of anticoagulants (see Chapter 29).
Poor nutritional habits, smoking, alcohol abuse, and drug

abuse have negative effects on the prognosis.
The ability of the patient to manage stress, follow through

with a demanding oral hygiene regimen, and recognize and
manage the periodontal problem affect the prognosis
either positively or negatively. Skill in identifying and
assessing these nondental factors is a key to the dentists
success as a prognostician.
Many dental factors must be weighed in developing a longterm prognosis. When occlusal problems such as bruxism
or malocclusion are present, they must be resolvable, or
they will negatively affect the prognosis. Key teeth must be
restorable, so that the restorative aspects of the problem can
be managed successfully.
Finally, the dentists assessment of the periodontal problem

and its manageability is critical to the prognosis. The extent
of the disease, its rate of progression, the status of key abutment teeth, the severity of furca involvements, root form,
and root proximity are some of the critical aspects affecting
prognosis. An extensive problem with rapid loss of support,
especially with few remaining solid teeth or teeth with
short or crowded roots or severe furcation involvements,
has a poorer prognosis than that for a case in which fewer
of these factors are negative.
A prognosis is an evolving decision-making process. As
additional factors become known, the prognosis should be
adjusted and fully explained to the patient.
Additional Readings
Hirschfeld L, Wasserman B. A long-term study of tooth loss in 600
treated periodontal patients. J Periodontol 1978;49:225.
Ramfjord SP, editor. World workshop in periodontics. Ann Arbor (MI):
American Academy of Periodontology; 1966.
Schluger S et al. Periodontal diseases. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1990.
p. 341.
Waerhaug J. The furcation problem: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis,
therapy, and prognosis. J Clin Periodontol 1980;7:73.
Patient for PROGNOSIS WHOSE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLAN ARE COMPLETE
A Consider: Age of the patient as a factor
Younger
POORER PROGNOSIS
72
Older
BETTER PROGNOSIS
Consider: Skills of the treating dentist
Few skills
Many skills
POORER PROGNOSIS
BETTER PROGNOSIS
Consider: Does the medical status of the patient compromise the prognosis?
Yes
No
POORER PROGNOSIS
BETTER PROGNOSIS
D Consider: Does the patient have any habits that would jeopardize therapy?
Yes
No
POORER PROGNOSIS
BETTER PROGNOSIS
E Consider: Does the patient have a psychologic makeup that could affect behavior adversely?
Yes
No
POORER PROGNOSIS
BETTER PROGNOSIS
F Consider: Does the patient have dental conditions (eg, bruxism, malocclusion)
that would affect therapy adversely, or any unmanageable restorative problems?
Yes
No
POORER PROGNOSIS
BETTER PROGNOSIS
G Consider: How severe or rapidly progressive is the periodontal problem?

Are there badly involved key abutment teeth, severe furca involvement,
poor root form, or root proximity, which could jeopardize successful treatment?
Yes
No
POORER PROGNOSIS
BETTER PROGNOSIS
Comprehensive analysis and presentation of the PROGNOSIS
73
PART 7 Prognosis
37
Hopeless Teeth
Walter B. Hall
Hopeless teeth are those that cannot be treated with reasonable

expectations of eliminating or even controlling their dental
problems. Such teeth are not always extracted, but in some situations may be maintained, occasionally for years, with full
recognition that no means of treating them or stopping their
loss of attachment (LOA) exists. For example, such patients
may have lost 50% or more of the attachment on all their
remaining teeth. Pocket-elimination surgery might be ruled
out on the basis of leaving inadequate support to keep the teeth
at all with any reasonable degree of comfort or function. A
Widman flap may be used to dbride the area once fully, but
neither the patient nor the dentist can expect to control the disease process with root planing, even with the use of antibiotics.
Such teeth may be maintained, if the patient demands, for
some time before abscesses and pain necessitate their removal.
Such patients should proceed with full knowledge that their
prognosis is hopeless and should be aware of the risks of
abscesses and possible danger to general health. The concept of
hopeless, therefore, should be explained fully when such a prognosis is used so that the patient not only assumes all the attendant risks of keeping such teeth, but also is fully informed in
the legal sense (see Chapter 139).
Today, many teeth previously regarded as hopeless are salvageable via guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Badly involved
Class II furcation involvements, large three-walled infrabony
defects, and osseous craters that were nontreatable have
become predictably treatable. Significant numbers of formerly
hopeless teeth can be saved by this means today. Recent
advances with extensive GTR procedures have made most twowalled infrabony defects routinely treatable.
A
Some teeth must be regarded as hopeless because they are

not restorable, because they are malposed to an extent not
correctable orthodontically, or because vertical or spiral
cracks extend apically down their roots.
Some teeth may not be amenable to GTR. Root proximity (less than 1 mm between roots) may make GTR impossible because proximal root surfaces, especially those with
furcas (maxillary molars or first premolars), may not be
accessible to instrumentation.
Cracked tooth problems can make a tooths prognosis
hopeless. If cracked tooth syndrome exists and the symptoms
are bothersome to the patient, the tooth may have to be
removed if the crack extends vertically down the root. If the
crack is essentially in the crown, placing a restorative crown
may control the symptoms and restrict further crack spreading so that the prognosis for the tooth can be improved. Vertical cracks in the root of the tooth, however, are not treatable, and the prognosis is hopeless.
Next, assess the endodontic health of a severely periodontally involved tooth. If a tooth is not endodontically treat-
74
able (ie, calcified canals, roots too crooked to be obturated,

severely internally or externally resorbed or perforated), it
should be regarded as hopeless.
If the tooth is a molar with a Class III furcation involvement, determine its endodontic status. If endodontic therapy is needed and can be performed, the prognosis for the
tooth is greatly improved. If not, the possibilities of improving the molars prognosis would depend on the possibility
of root amputation or hemisection being used to eliminate
the furcation involvement and to create a maintainable situation on the remaining portion of the tooth. If this cannot
be done (because of root form or fusion), the prognosis is
hopeless unless GTR is feasible.
C
If the tooth is nonrestorable because of the caries or fracture status of its remaining portion, it should be viewed as
hopeless even if it is maintained and the periodontal treatment continues.
If the tooth is not endodontically treatable, the next step
is to determine whether it is treatable periodontally.
Usually, a tooth with less than 50% LOA is treatable by frequent root planing (see Chapter 75) or with mucogingival
osseous surgery (see Chapter 79). Teeth with more than 50%
LOA usually require more extensive treatment to be saved.
Some teeth with more than 50% LOA may be salvaged by

GTR with highly predictable success. Teeth with Class II or
Class III furcation involvement may be treatable. Most Class
II furcation involvements with greater than 3 mm of horizontal loss into the furca but not through-and-through
problems are good candidates for GTR. Teeth with Class III
furcation involvements may be treatable by GTR or by root
amputation, hemisection, or a tunnel operation. If the roots
are fused too far apically or at the apex itself, such
approaches cannot be used, and the tooth should be regarded
as hopeless. Teeth with three-walled defects, even of severe
depth, routinely regenerate if the defect is narrow (no more
than 1 mm horizontally from the tooth to the crest of bone).
If the three-walled defects are wider, GTR can be expected to
be routinely successful. Teeth with a two-walled infrabony
crater can be successfully treated by GTR unless their roots
are less than 1 mm apart or the proximal furcas are too
severely involved to be instrumented owing to restricted
access, in which case they should be regarded as hopeless
unless root amputation, hemisection, or extraction of one of
the involved teeth makes the defect on the remaining tooth
treatable. A tooth with more than 50% LOA that is not
amenable to GTR today may still be maintained if it can be
splinted to other less-involved teeth. If such splinting is not
possible, the tooth should be regarded as hopeless.
Patient with a SEVERELY INVOLVED TOOTH
Nonrestorable
Uncorrectably involved
Root severely cracked
Restorable
Functionally adequate
or correctable
Hopeless
B Assess:
Endodontic status
Endodontically
involved
Endodontically
treatable
Endodontically
nontreatable
Not involved
endodontically
Hopeless
C Assess:
Is tooth treatable periodontally?
< 50% LOA
> 50% LOA
Usually
treatable
Assess:
Is tooth amenable to GTR?
Treatable by GTR
Furca class
Class II
furca
Treatable by GTR
Three-walled
osseous crater
Class III
furca
Two-walled
osseous crater
Not
splintable
Hopeless
Not treatable
by GTR (today)
Narrow
Wide
Osseous
surgery
GTR
> 1 mm between roots
No severe furcation
involvements proximally
GTR
Treatable with root
amputation, hemisection,
or tunnel operation
Not treatable by GTR
Not treatable with root

amputation, hemisection,
or tunnel operation
Hopeless
GTR
Splintable
Maintain with
or without
osseous surgery
< 1 mm between roots

No severe furcation
involvements proximally
Amenable to
root amputation,
hemisection,
or extraction
approach
Not amenable to
root amputation,
hemisection, or
extraction approach
Hopeless
Additional Readings
Corn H, Marks MA. Strategic extractions in periodontal therapy. Dent
Eakle WJ, Maxwell EH, Braly BV. Fractures of posterior teeth in adults.
Everett FG, Stern IB. When is tooth mobility an indication for extraction? Dent Clin North Am 1969;13:791.
Maxwell EH, Braly BV. Incomplete root fracture: predictions and prevention. Cal Dent Assoc J 1977;5:51.
Febiger; 1990. p. 341.
75
PART 8
TREATMENT PLANNING AND
TREATMENT
Gingivitis and Chronic Periodontitis
Pure Mucogingival Problems
Occlusal Trauma
Gingival Enlargement
Miscellaneous
GINGIVITIS AND CHRONIC

PERIODONTITIS
38 Sequence of Treatment
Walter B. Hall
39 Referral to a Periodontist
Walter B. Hall and Charles F. Sumner III
40 Referral to a Periodontist by a General Practitioner
Benjamin J. Mandel
41 Prophylaxis versus Root Planing
Walter B. Hall
42 Surgery versus Repetitive Root Planing
Walter B. Hall
43 Ultrasonic Debridement versus Hand Scaling / Root Planing
44 Treating Mucogingival-Osseous or Pure Mucogingival Problems
Walter B. Hall
45 Selection of Surgical Approaches for Periodontal Patients
Walter B. Hall
46 Furcation Involvements
Walter B. Hall
47 Powered or Manual Toothbrush
Lisa A. Harpenau
48 Adjunctive Plaque-Control Devices
Walter B. Hall
49 Maxillary Molars with Root Proximity / Periodontal Problems
Walter B. Hall
50 Periodontally Comprimised Potential Abutment Teeth
Walter B. Hall
51 Periodontal Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Therapy
52 Extraneous Factors That May Influence Treatment Planning
Walter B. Hall
PART 8 Treatment Planning and Treatment: Gingivitis and Chronic Periodontitis
38
Sequence of Treatment
Walter B. Hall
When a patient has a periodontal problem, a typical sequence of

examination and diagnosis precedes treatment planning. Medical, dental, and plaque-control histories should be recorded and
elaborated upon during radiographic and clinical examinations.
From these data, diagnoses and prognoses can be developed.
A
For purposes of treatment planning, periodontal problems are

divided into acute (symptomatic) problems, in which symptoms are present, and asymptomatic problems, in which no
acute problems are present. Symptomatic problems require
prompt treatment, usually at the diagnostic visit. Only the five
most common symptomatic problems are outlined here. The
most common periodontal diseases usually are asymptomatic,
and treatment can be planned on a more orderly basis that
best fits into the patients and dentists schedules.
Herpetic gingivostomatitis usually is managed with palliative care (mild painkillers or a topical anesthetic mouthwash), prophylaxis, and instruction about the infectious
nature of the problem. Maintain fluid balance in younger
children to avoid dehydration.
Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) and necrotizing

ulcerative periodontitis (NUP) are handled by instrumentation alone or in conjunction with an oral antibiotic, usually
penicillin.
Periodontal abscesses usually are handled by incision and

drainage along with antibiotic therapy.
Foreign bodies that become impacted in gingival sulci or

periodontal pockets, typically popcorn hulls or sesame
seeds, may cause acutely painful localized problems that are
relieved by removal of the offending object and dbridement of the area.
76
Therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) periodontitis requires close collaboration with the patients
physician in developing a palliative treatment plan. Acute
or severe episodes of HIV periodontitis in which tissue
necrosis is rapid and painful should be treated initially with
povidone-iodine (applied several times per day) if bone is
exposed. After a week, use chlorhexidine rinses morning
and night until necrosis is controlled. Extremely severe
episodes may be treated with metronidazole as the physician directs. If an HIV-infected patient is or becomes stable,
as can often happen today, dental treatment should be handled as with noninfected patients. Even guided tissue
regeneration (GTR), using resorbable membranes, has
become routine for individuals in stable states.
Gingivitis of the typical type probably is the most prevalent
disease affecting human beings, and most people experience
at least localized inflammations of this type in any given year.
Its subgroupings are related to host factors. It usually

responds favorably to prophylaxis (or root planing, if roots
are exposed) and to thorough plaque removal practices by
the patient. In the absence of daily thorough plaque removal,
it will return. Desquamative gingivitis is far less common and
usually is the gingival expression of dermatologic diseases.
Prophylaxis (or root planing), regular plaque removal (often
difficult), and topical steroid applications are common treatments. Oral hygiene instruction (OHI) is essential.
H
Chronic periodontitis is the current name for typical, slowly

progressive periodontitis. Its treatment usually consists of
initial therapy (root planing, OHI, occasionally occlusal
adjustment, and, occasionally, temporary splinting or
minor tooth movement). After several weeks or months of
patient effort, the response is evaluated and decisions are
made regarding the comparative value of surgery or continued maintenance.
Aggressive periodontitises include juvenile periodontitis,

mixed dentition periodontitis, and rapidly progressive periodontitis; these are discussed elsewhere. Although different
bacteria appear to predominate as etiologic agents with
these diseases, they are treated in a similar manner. A regimen of tetracycline (250 mg four times daily) or metronidazole is used for 3 weeks, during which all root planing is
accomplished. This regimen is repeated several times during the first year to contact the virulent bacteria. Often,
only regular maintenance or localized surgery is required
after this control is established. Such cases are best referred
to a dental school or periodontists.
Gingival enlargements (often referred to as hyperplasias)

may result from drug therapy (diphenylhydantoin,
cyclosporine, or nifedipine treatment or from poor oral
hygiene during orthodontic treatment in the pubertal
years. They are treated with initial therapy, and surgery if
the deformities interfere with adequate plaque removal,
occlusion, or regular maintenance. Stopping use of medication or removing orthodontic bands is necessary in some
instances and should be managed along with the treating
physician or orthodontist respectively.
Additional Readings
Barsh LI. Dental treatment planning for the adult patient. Philadelphia:
Patient with a periodontal problem for TREATMENT PLANNING
Consider medical, dental, and oral hygiene

histories; radiographic and clinical
examinations; diagnosis; and prognosis
A Decide:
Is problem symptomatic, requiring
immediate treatment, or not?
Acute problem
(symptomatic)
Herpetic
gingivostomatitis
NUG
or
NUP
No acute problem
(asymptomatic)
Periodontal
abscess
INSTRUMENTATION
ALONE or with
ANTIBIOTICS
Palliative
care
INCISION and
DRAINAGE,
ANTIBIOTICS
Foreign
body
impaction
REMOVAL of
FOREIGN BODY,
DBRIDEMENT
Gingivitis
Typical
PROPHYLAXIS
or ROOT PLANING
and OHI
Desquamative
PROPHYLAXIS
or ROOT PLANING
and OHI along
with TOPICAL
STEROIDS
Chronic
periodontitis
Initial
therapy
SURGERY or
MAINTENANCE
HIV-associated
periodontitis
Establish:
Current status
with physician
Poor
Good
MAINTENANCE
SAME AS FOR
CHRONIC
PERIODONTITIS
PROPHYLAXIS
Aggressive
periodontitis
Prepubertal
(mixed dentition)
Rapidly
progressive
Gingival
enlargements
Intial therapy
consult with
physician or
orthodontist
Juvenile
INITIAL THERAPY and ANTIBIOTICS
SURGERY or
MAINTENANCE
Repeat before
considering surgery
77
39
Referral to a Periodontist
Walter B. Hall and Charles F. Sumner III
When there is a periodontal component to the treatment plan

for a complex dental problem, several factors determine the
need or desirability of referring the patient to a periodontist.
Some dentists have mastered many aspects of periodontal care.
Dentists must have a realistic concept of their own abilities and
limitations. In some states, a quasilegal requirement for referral
or offer of referral of complex cases has developed. A patient
with a complex problem needs to know that a specialist in periodontics exists and may be consulted. If a case has complexities
involving multiple specialized areas, referral is particularly
desirable.
A
If there are no significant periodontal aspects in the treatment plan, referral is not necessary.1
If the treatment plan has a significant periodontal component, dentists must decide whether they have the required
skill to treat the periodontal problem or if better care could
be provided by a specialist. If the dentist does not have the
skill, the patient must be referred to a periodontist or the
dentist must refuse to treat the case. General practitioners
who have additional training may treat cases that are no
longer in the earliest stages. If general dentists decide that
the level of disease is within their ability to treat, however,
they must still inform patients (1) that they, the patients,
have a periodontal disease; (2) about the extent of the disease; and (3) that there are specialists in the treatment of
this dental disease. To fail to so inform the patient would be
to render care without a complete informed consent.2,3
If dentists believe that they have the necessary skills to provide the periodontal treatment, they must decide whether
referral would be in the best interest of the patient. Dentists
must also decide whether they are required by practice concepts in their area to refer the case. They must make the
patient aware that a specialist, the periodontist, is available
for consultation. If the dentist feels that they can handle the
case, and if the patient selects treatment by the dentist, the
dentist must decide whether to treat the case or refuse to
accept the person as a patient.
The general practitioner who performs the necessary
treatment with the patients informed consent is bound to
disclose to the patient if the treatment is not successful.4
The patient must be referred to a specialist as soon as the
general practitioner becomes aware or should have become
aware that the therapy initiated is not proving to be as
effective as could be expected in the hands of a specialist.
78
If the dentist feels that they have the skills to manage the
periodontal care but that better care could be provided by
a periodontist, they must determine whether the patient is
likely to accept the referral and can afford treatment by a
specialist. If so, the patient should be referred. If not, the
dentist may consider altering the plan so that it can be
managed, or the dentist can refuse to accept the person as
a patient. If the patient declines to be referred, the
informed consent aspects of the discussion should be
recorded in the chart.
A suggestion that the patient seek the care of a specialist
is not enough. The practitioner is obliged to inform the
patient adequately about the extent of the disease and the
consequences if the patient fails to follow through with the
referral.5 The courts have found dentists negligent in cases
in which patients have asserted they were not made aware
of the consequence of failing to seek care. Thus it would be
prudent to follow up on each of the referrals and not simply
dismiss the patient who apparently has not taken the advice.
Some courts have held referring dentists liable for not
having warned patients of the extent and type of care they
would receive from the specialist6; however, in most
instances, it is the primary obligation of the specialist or a
staff member to inform the patient properly and obtain a satisfactory informed consent.7,8
Patients are at a disadvantage if they need to rely only
on their own resources to choose a specialist. After having informed patients of their needs for special care, dentists are obliged to assist patients in making a prudent
choice. Having fulfilled their obligation of referring the
patient to a specialist whom they reasonably believe to be
competent, referring dentists are not held liable for the
negligent acts of the specialist. An exception exists to this
rule where there is a partnership or fiduciary relationship
between the general practitioner and the specialist.
Having entered into a joint relationship with the patient in
the care and treatment of that patients periodontal disease,
the dentist must reach some agreement as to the responsibility of follow-up care after the case has been referred to a specialist. Furthermore, it is equally essential that the patient be
made aware of and consents to these plans.
Periodontal disease is more frequently controlled than
cured. Having taken on the responsibility of care, the
general practitioner and specialist must meet a community standard in all aspects of determining a diagnosis, a
treatment plan, and provision of maintenance care. Both
parties have a duty to inform the patient of their plans,
Patient with a COMPLEX DENTAL PROBLEM
Determine:
Is there a periodontal component to the problem?
No periodontal
component
No need to refer
Periodontal
component
Assess:
Complexity for problem
Does the dentist have requisite skills in periodontics?
No
Refuse
treatment
Yes
C
Refer to
periodontist
Assess:
Can case be handled better by referral to specialists?
Is referral required?
Yes
No
Present:
Option of treatment by dentist or referral
Patient selects
referral
Refer to
periodontist
Patient prefers
treatment by dentist
Treatment
by dentist
their prognoses, and the consequences of not following

the plans. They must also offer the patient an alternative
plan, if available, describing its advantages and disadvantages. Only then can the patient make an informed decision and the dentist proceed with an informed consent.
Additional Readings
Mosby; 1988. p. 605.
1984. p. 169.
Zinman EJ. Common dental malpractice errors and preventive measures. J West Soc Periodont 1976;23:149.
Determine:
Is patient likely to accept referral?
Can patient afford treatment by specialist?
No
Yes
Refuse
to treat
Refer to
periodontist
Legal References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Helling v Carey, Wash, 519 P.2d 981 (1974).

Canterbury v Spence, 464 F2d 772 (1972).
Cobbs v Grant, 104 Cal Rptr 505 (1972).
Baldor v Roger, 81 S Rptr 2d 660 (1955).
Moore v Preventive Medicine Medical Group, Inc, 178 Cal, App.3d
728;223 Cal Rptr 85 (1986).
6. Llera v Wisner, 557 P.2d 805 (1976).
7. Mustacchio v Parker, 535 So.2d 833, La App.2Cir (1988).
8. Bulman v Myers, DDS, 467 A.2d 1353, Pa.Super. (1983).
79
40
Referral to a Periodontist by a General Practitioner

Benjamin J. Mandel
Premature referrals result in one of the following: (1) the

patient does not see a specialist; (2) the patient sees a specialist
but does not accept treatment because the patient is not mentally or financially ready; or (3) the patient leaves the general
practitioner because the referral was not successful, and rather
than return to the general practitioner, the patient chooses a
new dentist. In any event, when premature referrals are made,
the general practitioner, specialist, and patient all lose.
The general practitioner should always refer the patient to
two specialists. If the patient does not like the first specialists
treatment approach, there is always a second opportunity.
If any problems with compliance develop during treatment
by the specialist, the specialist should request the general practitioners input. The general practitioner must inform the patient
of the services provided by a specialist at the onset of treatment
and throughout the course of treatment to reinforce the idea that
at some point a specialist may be needed. This constant reinforcement throughout the treatment makes the patient more
willing to accept the completion of the general practitioners
treatment and the continuation of care at the specialists office.
Whether the patient accepts or declines the referrals, the
patient must be informed in writing of the consequences of failure to obtain treatment. The general practitioner must communicate to the specialist by phone or in writing before the referral is made to familiarize the specialist with all aspects related to
this patient. The better the communication, the easier the transition. Communication is the key to this entire process.
A
80
The first step toward a successful referral is a thorough evaluation of the patient by a general practitioner. A complete
medical and dental history is reviewed with the patient. Any
previous problems with dentists (general practitioners and
specialists alike) must be evaluated. Because the patient is to
remain with the general practitioner at the beginning and
end of treatment, a careful diagnosis, treatment plan, and
prognosis must be prepared and understood by the patient
before any referrals can be made. The patient and general
practitioner must be comfortable with each other as well as
with all aspects of the treatment (including emotional and
financial). The patient is informed that referrals to specialists
in different disciplines may be necessary and that in the end
the patient will return to the general practitioner. At this
point the goal is to build a level of awareness.
The second phase is the beginning of treatment. The goals
are: (1) to take the patient out of pain and eliminate infection, (2) to begin basic caries control through restorative
treatment, and (3) to provide prophylaxis. If no periodontal
component is found at the end of this phase, the patient can
proceed with advanced treatment (eg, crown and bridge)
and then be placed on a 6-month continuing-care program.
The patient with a periodontal component must undergo

thorough root planing therapy with heavy emphasis on
home care and follow-up, such that the patient understands the nature of periodontal disease. Oral hygiene
instruction (OHI) is offered so that good habits are established and monitored.
If, at the end of this phase, the patient has no periodontal
component, the patient is placed on a 3-month continuingcare program, and basic restorative treatment is begun. If
the patient has improved somewhat but a few areas of concern remain, those problems are resolved by obtaining written, informed consent of advanced periodontal treatment by
the general practitioner or making a referral to the specialist
after completing phase two of the basic caries control and
simple restorative phase. If the patient refuses a referral to a
specialist, the general practitioner should proceed with
advanced techniques if comfortable with them. If not comfortable with such techniques, the general practitioner must
insist on consultation with a specialist. By this time, the general practitioner has had the opportunity to get to know the
patient and can have a thorough discussion about the direction of the treatment, which areas have improved, and
which have not improved. If the patient refuses the referral,
the general practitioner must inform the patient that if the
advanced techniques performed by the general practitioner
are not successful, a specialist must be consulted. The above
advice must be in writing and must be made part of the written, informed consent of any advanced procedure.
After advanced techniques are performed, thorough

monthly evaluations should be performed and 3-month
continuing-care visits should go on as usual. A thorough
evaluation, including probing, must be done 6 months after
the advanced procedures are performed. As an example,
areas that have guided tissue regeneration procedures performed cannot be probed for at least 6 months. If most
areas have improved, the patient is maintained on 3-month
continuing-care visits, and the patient is offered a referral to
a specialist for areas that did not achieve optimal results. It
is the general practitioners responsibility to redo those procedures at no additional cost to the patient.
This is the most difficult stage because failure to accept referrals to specialists will compromise teeth as well as restorative
aspects. Money and fear are important factors, and 3-month
continuing-care visits must be continued rather than losing
the patient. Perhaps the patient will accept a 1- or 2-month
maintenance visit as a compromise. Circumstances may
change by keeping the patient in the practice, and the
patient might accept a referral sometime in the future. But
even if the referral is not accepted, at least the patient is
being maintained and home care is being reinforced.
Patient for INITIAL EXAMINATION BY A GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Determine:
Is a significant periodontal problem present?
B Yes
No
Prophylaxis or root planing
OHI
Root planing
OHI
C
Yes
Determine:
Has the periodontal problem resolved sufficiently
to proceed with the restorative plan?
No
Yes
Consider:
Will the patient accept a referral to a periodontist?
E Yes
No
Further periodontal treatment
by general practitioner
Referral to
periodontist
Determine:
Can the general practitioner manage
the needed periodontal care?
Yes
Periodontal
treatment
Return to general
practitioner
No
Repeat root
planing and OHI
Restorative
treatment
Determine:
Has the prognosis improved
enough to proceed?
Yes
Return to stay with
general pracititioner
Successful referral at any stage ends with the patient

returning to the general practitioner to complete advanced
restorative techniques, with one exception: a referral to a
prosthodontist if the general practitioner feels this is in the
patients best interest. In any event, the permanent, continuing-care program must be within the control of the general practitioner.
No
Compromised restorative
plan (eg, removable
prosthondontics)
Additional Readings
1984. p. 169.
81
41
Prophylaxis versus Root Planing

Walter B. Hall
When examining a patient who has plaque and calculus deposits

on several teeth, the dentist must decide whether prophylaxis,
root planing, or a combination of the two is the appropriate first
step in therapy (Figure 41-1). Prophylaxis is defined as the scaling
of deposits from the anatomic crown of the tooth, either from
enamel or from a restorative material. Root planing is defined as
the removal of calculus, most plaque, essentially all cementum,
and some dentin from the roots of teeth while they are planed to
clinical smoothness. The removal of calculus from the crowns
(scaling) and the polishing of all exposed tooth surfaces are
regarded as part of this process for the sake of ease of documentation and billing. Scaling of the anatomic crowns of teeth is a
relatively simple procedure and is of minimal importance. Root
planing, however, is one of the most difficult and demanding
procedures in dentistry. In planning treatment, the dentist has an
obligation to differentiate fairly and correctly between the procedures to charge the patient or a third party properly for the work
done. Whenever loss of attachment has occurred and no root
restorations are present, root planing must be performed.
When only the anatomic crowns (enamel) or restorative

materials are exposed and have calculus deposits on them,
prophylaxis is the appropriate treatment. The cost of this
procedure usually is minimal because the time, effort, and
skill required to perform the procedure usually are minimal.
In some instances in which calculus deposits are extensive
and of long standing, a higher charge to compensate for the
greater time required is justifiable and appropriate.
When only a few teeth have roots exposed or many teeth

have little root exposure, a charge for prophylaxis and
perhaps one quadrant or two of root planing would be
appropriate.
When most teeth have root exposure of several millimeters

or more, root planing is the appropriate treatment plan. The
cost of initial root planing might reasonably be set at four or
more times the cost of prophylaxis to reflect the greater
time, effort, and skill required to perform this procedure.
Recall root planing, however, after the roots have been

planed by the dentist initially, is a much easier task because
many calculi will be relatively new and attached to the previously smoothed dentin much less firmly than the old calculus had been united with cementum. Recall root planing,
therefore, makes appropriate a significantly lower fee than
for the initial planing, perhaps the same as one quadrant
initially for the full mouth on recall. Recall instrumentation
of exposed roots should not be termed prophylaxis, because
only scaling calculus deposits from exposed roots would
leave a roughened, irregular, or gouged root surface.
Additional Readings
Figure 41-1 Prophylaxis consists of scaling and polishing natural or
restored crowns of teeth, whereas root planing is performed only on
natural root structures (cementum or dentin).
82
Hall WB. Clinical practice. In: Steele PF, editor. Dimensions in dental
hygiene. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1982. p. 143.
Hall WB. Procedure code 452: eliminating the confusion. Calif Dent
Assoc J 1983;11:33.
Patient with CALCULUS AND PLAQUE DEPOSITS
Determine:
Surfaces exposed
Only enamel and

restorations exposed
Prophylaxis
Roots as well as
crowns exposed
Only a few teeth

with root exposure
PROPHYLAXIS
and localized
ROOT PLANING
Most teeth with

root exposure
ROOT PLANING
Recall
ROOT PLANING
83
42
Surgery versus Repetitive Root Planing

Walter B. Hall
At the time of the evaluation for initial therapy, the dentists

greatest concern is with what to do next. Broadly speaking, the
options are to do surgery or to maintain the patient with repetitive root planing. The dentist must decide which approach is
indicated, but the patient may choose the less desirable option
for reasons such as cost or fear. Esthetics become a concern when
surgery appears to be a reasonable option in maxillary anterior
regions. If the probable esthetic result of surgery, even if therapeutically successful, is unacceptable to the patient, maintenance
is a reasonable alternative. If deep and inaccessible pocket areas
remain, the use of a modified Widman flap might be desirable to
permit thorough, one-time dbridement while minimizing postsurgical exposure. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) may permit
significant restitution of periodontal support on teeth with deep
osseous defects, making surgery of this type a most desirable
option for a patient with localized severe defects.
A
The success of the patients plaque-control efforts is an

important factor in deciding whether a patient merits
surgery. A patient who has been unable to clean the
supragingival portions of the teeth before surgery is not a
promising candidate to do well with the more tortuous and
minimally accessible areas usually exposed after osseous
surgery. A patient who has cleaned these areas well is more
likely to be able and willing to clean well after surgery.
GTR, if even partially successful, facilitates plaque control.
A patient who has removed plaque well usually has a good

response to initial therapy. Signs of inflammation are diminished or absent, and pocket depth and mobility are likely to
have decreased. Occasionally, however, a patients response
is not good, despite efforts at plaque control; surgery for
such a patient is less likely to be a good alternative.
If the patients response is exceptionally good and there are

no requirements that surgery be considered (eg, pure
mucogingival problems, inadequate crown exposure), the
patient may do well with only repetitive planing rather than
surgery. If there are restorative demands for a surgical
approach, however, surgery should be considered unless the
esthetic results should be unacceptable. If the patient has
localized areas that are inaccessible to root planing, consider
surgery. When esthetic concerns exist, a modified Widman
flap approach would permit a one-time, thorough dbridement, which might be advantageous. A patient whose
response has been poor despite good plaque control is not a
84
promising candidate for surgery. If there are no restorative

demands for surgery, place the patient on regular, repetitive
root planing and evaluation. If there are demanding restorative needs, consider surgery unless the esthetic results
would be unacceptable. If the patient has localized, inaccessible pockets, GTR can be used when esthetics are important, or pocket elimination might be used when esthetics are
not a concern or will be minimized restoratively.
D
A patient who has done poorly in plaque control usually

shows a poor response to initial therapy; occasionally, however, good responses may occur despite the patients efforts.
For patients with poor oral hygiene who exhibit a good
response, surgery may be a practical option if they have
restorative needs that surgery would benefit. If a patient
has no esthetic concerns, surgery can be done. If the patient
has esthetic concerns, maintenance root planing is a better
choice. If the patient with good response but poor oral
hygiene has no demanding restorative needs, repeat root
planing and evaluate again. If the patient has localized,
inaccessible pocket areas, GTR is indicated. A patient with
poor oral hygiene who has the expected poor response to
initial therapy, and no restorative requirements to consider
surgery, should be placed on a repetitive root-planing program. If there are restorative requirements, repeat the root
planing and evaluate again to determine whether the
patient can improve the oral hygiene to a level at which
surgery would be reasonable. If the patient has localized,
inaccessible pocket areas, a modified Widman flap approach
would permit a one-time, thorough dbridement. GTR can
be considered, despite poor oral hygiene, if a critical tooth
can be saved and the patient recognizes the risk of continued poor oral hygiene.
Additional Readings
Grant DA, Stern IB, Listgarten MA. Periodontics. St. Louis: Mosby;
1988. p. 602.
Schluger S et al. Periodontal diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger;
1990. p. 461.
Periodontitis patient for INITIAL THERAPY EVALUATION
Assess:
Oral hygiene
Good oral
hygiene
Poor oral
hygiene
Good response
to initial therapy
Poor response
to initial therapy
Good response,
restorative
demand for
surgery
MAINTENANCE
Localized,
inaccessible
areas
Restorative
demand
for surgery
Esthetic
concern
No esthetic
concern
MODIFIED
WIDMAN
FLAP
PROCEDURE
or GTR
SURGERY
Esthetic
concern
Esthetic
concern
No esthetic
concern
MAINTENANCE
SURGERY
Good response
to initial therapy
Poor response
to initial therapy
Consider:
Restorative demand for surgery
Esthetic concerns
Very good
response,
no restorative
demand for
surgery
Assess:
Response to initial therapy
MAINTENANCE
No restorative
demand
for surgery
Restorative
demand for
surgery
MAINTENANCE
No restorative
demand for
surgery
Localized,
inaccessible
areas
Repeat
PLANING
and
Reevaluate
Restorative
demand
for surgery
No restorative
demand
for surgery
Repeat
PLANING
and
Reevaluate
MAINTENANCE
Esthetic
concern
No esthetic
concern
Esthetic
concern
No esthetic
concern
MAINTENANCE
SURGERY
MODIFIED
WIDMAN
FLAP
PROCEDURE
or GTR
SURGERY
No esthetic
concern
SURGERY
85
43
Ultrasonic Dbridement versus Hand Scaling / Root Planing

Periodontal dbridement is an essential treatment modality in

the control of inflammatory periodontal disease. This procedure
has been largely accomplished using hand instrumentation
(curets/scalers); however, with the advancements in ultrasonic
technology, the clinician must now select between manual and
power-driven instrumentation.
A
Clinical studies have demonstrated that similar improvement in clinical parameters (ie, decreased probing depth,
increased attachment levels, reduced bleeding on probing)
can be achieved with manual and ultrasonic instrumentation. Therefore, patient preference should play a major role
in determining the appropriate form of instrumentation for
any given patient.
For patients who strongly prefer ultrasonic over manual

instrumentation, the procedure can be completed with
ultrasonic dbridement alone as long as adequate time is
spent to thoroughly dbride the exposed root surfaces.
Hand instrumentation alone would be indicated if ultrasonic instrumentation is medically contraindicated (ie,
owing to a cardiac pacemaker or some infectious diseases).
Ultrasonic instrumentation does carry an increased risk for
creating contaminated aerosols.
86
For patients with no strong preference for ultrasonic versus hand instrumentation (most patients), and no medical contraindication to ultrasonic dbridement, a combination approach is preferred. Ultrasonics may offer an
advantage in instrumenting deep, narrow pockets and
some furcations (ie, Class II and Class III), using contemporary tip designs with smaller diameter and longer
working length. Ultrasonic instrumentation does carry an
increased risk for creating contaminated aerosols. Manual
therapy may offer increased tactile sense for instrumentation and detection of caries. Hand instrumentation
alone is indicated if ultrasonic instrumentation is medically contraindicated (ie, owing to a cardiac pacemaker
or some infectious diseases).
For patients who strongly prefer hand instrumentation,

ultrasonic therapy should be considered for deep, narrow
pockets and Class II / Class III furcation involvements. Hand
instrumentation should be used at all other indicated sites.
Additional Reading
Position paper. Sonic and ultrasonic scalers in periodontics. J Periodontol
2000;71:1792.
Patient requiring INITIAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY
Patient strongly
prefers ultrasonics
Determine: Patient preference
Patient has no
strong preference
Patient strongly prefers

hand instrumentation
Determine: Medical contraindications or not
No medical
contraindication
for ultrasonics
Medical
contraindication
Ultrasonic
Hand
instrumentation
No medical
contraindication
for ultrasonics
Combination
therapy
Medical
contraindication
No medical
contraindication
for ultrasonics
Hand
instrumentation
Medical
contraindication
Hand
instrumentation
Assess: Types of pockets and furcas present
Deep,
narrow
pockets
Ultrasonics
Class II
and
Class III
furcations
Combination
therapy
All
other
sites
Hand
instrumentation
87
44
Treating Mucogingival-Osseous or
Pure Mucogingival Problems
Walter B. Hall
After determining that periodontal surgery is needed, the dentist or periodontist (to whom the patient may have been
referred) first must determine the nature of the surgical problem. Periodontal surgical procedures may be regarded as pure
mucogingival procedures or mucogingival-osseous procedures,
although the differences are less important today.
A
88
Pure mucogingival procedures include those whose goals

are gingival augmentation when inadequate attached gingiva is present. These procedures (from most versatile to
least) include the following: connective tissue graft, free gingival graft, and pedicle grafts. Ridge augmentation is a procedure used when no teeth are involved to create a better
formed, more esthetic ridge on which to construct a bridge.
The dentist must determine whether recession is active
in an area of inadequate gingiva, especially areas with less
than 2 mm of attached gingiva. Earlier recordings, photographs, and old study models are more useful than the
patients impressions, although the latter may be all that is
available. If recession can be documented as active, gingival augmentation is recommended. If not, the dentist must
decide whether proposed orthodontic or restorative treatment requires gingival augmentation. If so, the dentist
must discuss the advantages and disadvantages of augmentation with the patient and record the decisions made.
If the patient decides not to undergo gingival augmentation or if the orthodontic or restorative treatment does not
indicate an immediate need for augmentation, the area
may be maintained and a connective tissue graft for root
coverage may be used if recession occurs.
Mucogingival-osseous problems are the result of inflammatory periodontal diseases that cause loss of attachment, bone
loss, and pocket formation. These problems demand attention before restoration or orthodontics. Regaining lost attachment is the most desirable goal.
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has been a predictable procedure in the presence of Class II furcation that probe more
than 3 mm horizontally between roots (less so for throughand-through or Class III furcations), three-walled osseous
defects, or osseous craters (two-walled defects).
When lesions not predictably amenable to new attachment

procedures are present, the dentist should consider the
desirability of pocket-elimination surgery before restoration
or orthodonticsor in some instances (eg, uprighting a
tooth), after orthodontics. GTR often is a better alternative.
If the problem is relatively minimal and the patient demonstrably motivated, maintenance with frequent root planing
alone may be the best option.
Additional Readings
Hall WB, Lundergan W. Free gingival grafts: current indications and
techniques. Dent Clin North Am 1993;37:227.
1990. p. 334.
Townsend C, Ammons WF, van-Bellen G. A longitudinal study comparing apically repositioned flaps with and without osseous surgery.
Int J Periodont Res Dent 1985;5:11.
Patient requiring PERIODONTAL SURGERY
Assess:
Nature of surgical problem
Pure mucogingival
problem
Determine:
Is recession active?
Yes
Mucogingivalosseous problem
Assess:
Possibilities of gaining new attachment
No
Determine:
Will proposed treatment induce
recession (orthodontics, crowns,
subgingival margins)?
Yes
GTR
D No
Assess:
Possibilities of pocket elimination
Yes
Yes
No
POCKETELIMINATION
SURGERY
Determine:
Will patient accept
gingival augmentation?
Yes
GINGIVAL
AUGMENTATION
before other
treatment
No
MODIFIED
WIDMAN
FLAP
Maintain
No
Maintain
if recedes
If recedes,
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFT
or GTR
89
45
Selection of Surgical Approaches for Periodontal Patients

Walter B. Hall
Discuss with a patient the probability of the need for periodontal surgery if indicated during initial treatment planning. Many
patients with complex dental problems require mucogingivalosseous surgery or guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Most
patients have been affected by adult (chrome) periodontitis and
have a number of teeth with pocket depth, bone loss, and loss
of attachment. The character of the bone loss determines the
type of surgery indicated.
A
First, the dentist must decide whether the problem involves

horizontal bone loss, vertical loss, or mixed loss (some teeth
with horizontal bone loss and some with vertical bone loss).
If the patient has only horizontal bone loss, the severity of
loss and number of severely involved teeth are the factors
that determine the treatment plan. If many teeth are
severely affected, mucogingival-osseous surgery is contraindicated; however, GTR occurring when several adjacent
teeth are involved with vertical bone loss is a promising
means of dealing with severe problems. The restorative plan
is worked out determining which, if any, teeth can be used.
If the horizontal bone loss is not severe or generalized,
pocket-elimination surgery performed with osteoplasty to
create the most readily maintainable contours may be best.
Otherwise, maintenance or extraction should be considered.
If vertical bone loss is involved, the types of osseous
defects present determine the type of surgery indicated.
Shallow one-walled defects should be managed with
pocket-elimination surgery and osseous resection (ostec-
Figure 45-1 A shallow, two-walled infrabony crater is treated by

osseous resection.
*New World Health Organization terminology.
90
tomy and osteoplasty). If a one-walled defect is moderate to

deep, consider the value of the individual tooth to the overall treatment plan. If the tooth is of little value, extraction
is the best approach. If the tooth is critical to the overall
treatment plan, use GTR or GTR with concomitant or second-stage osseous resection.
C
If two-walled defects are present, the surgical approach

depends on whether the defects are craters (defects between
adjacent teeth where facial and lingual cortical plates
remain) of the less common type that affects only one tooth
in which a facial or lingual cortical plate and a wall against
the adjacent tooth remain. If a crater is present and is a shallow defect, pocket-elimination surgery with osseous resection is best (Figure 45-1). If the crater is moderate to deep,
use GTR (Figure 45-2). If the two-walled defect affects only
a single tooth, its value to the overall treatment plan determines whether GTR or extraction is best.
If a three-walled defect is present, its depth and horizontal width from the root to osseous crest determine the surgical approach. A narrow defect (less than 1 mm horizontal from the root to osseous crest) is amenable to a
Prichard fill technique, wherein total dbridement is followed by bone fill and new attachment on a predictable
basis. If the defect is wide (more than 1 mm horizontal
from the root to osseous crest) and moderate to deep, GTR
is a predictable means of gaining new attachment. If the
defect is wide and shallow, pocket elimination with
osseous resection is best.
Figure 45-2 A deep, two-walled infrabony crater is treated by GTR.
Patient in need of PERIODONTAL SURGERY
Determine:
What general type of osseous lesions are present?
Horizontal
bone loss only
Vertical or
mixed bone loss
Assess:
Severity of bone loss
Minimal
Severe
POCKETELIMINATION
SURGERY with
OSTEOPLASTY
Maintain as
hopeless or
EXTRACT
Assess:
Type(s) of osseous defects present
One-walled
defect(s)
Assess:
Severity of defect(s)
Shallow
POCKETELIMINATION
SURGERY
with
OSSEOUS
RESECTION
Moderate
to deep
Two-walled
defect(s)
Determine:
Crater or not?
Not
crater
Assess:
Value of tooth to
treatment plan
Little
value
Assess:
Width and depth of defect(s)
Crater
Moderate
to deep
Critical
EXTRACT
GTR
or combination
with OSSEOUS
RESECTION
Three-walled
defect(s)
Shallow,
wide
Moderate
to deep,
wide
All
narrow
PRICHARD FILL
TECHNIQUE
Shallow
POCKETELIMINATION
SURGERY
with
OSSEOUS
RESECTION
GTR
Additional Readings
Knowles JW. Results of periodontal treatment related to pocket depth
and attachment level: eight years. J Periodontol 1979;50:225.
Nevins M, Mellonig JT. Peridontal therapy: clinical approaches and evidence
of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 174, 249.
Pihlstrom BL, McHugh RB, Oliphant TH et al. Comparison of surgical

and non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. A review of current studies and additional results after 61/2 years. J Clin Periodontol
1983;10:524.
Pihlstrom BL, Ortiz Campos C, McHugh RB. A randomized four year
study of periodontal therapy. J Periodontol 1981;52:227.
Sato N. Periodontal surgery: a clinical atlas. Tokyo: Quintessence Publishing; 2000. p. 23.
91
46
Furcation Involvements
Walter B. Hall
The type and severity of furcation involvements on molar teeth

represent a critical concern in treatment planning, particularly
when surgery is being considered. Furcation involvements are
categorized as follows: Class I, incipient; Class II, definite; or
Class III, through and through (Figure 46-1).
Each furcation should be explored with a pigtail type of
explorer, or furca-finder. Insert the instrument into the furcation and move it laterally and coronally to determine whether
the instrument can slip out. The type of furcation involvement
is recorded on the chart, and the options for treatment are
then considered.
A
An incipient (Class I) furcation exists when the instrument

slips out of the furcation when moved anteriorly, posteriorly, or coronally or in proximal furcations when moved
facially, lingually, and coronally. This furcation is recorded
with the symbol placed appropriately on the tooth diagram. Such furcations are unlikely to influence the treatment plan but should be documented. If the incipient
involvement is deep and does not produce a definite catch
because adjacent roots are fused, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) (see Chapter 79) should be considered.
A definite (Class II) furcation exists when a definite catch
prevents removal of the furca-finder coronally or laterally
but definitely stops before going through and through to

another furcation opening. This furcation is recorded with
the symbol placed in the appropriate furcation area on
the tooth diagram. The severity of the involvement horizontally determines the best treatment option. If the furcafinder can be advanced less than 3 mm horizontally into
the defect, osseous resection and pocket elimination represent a good treatment option. If the furca-finder can be
advanced 3 mm or more into the defect, GTR is a predictable approach for regaining lost attachment and creating a maintainable situation. Often, the horizontal measurement is recorded in millimeters apical to the symbol of
the chart.
C
A through-and-through (Class III) furcation exists when

the furca-finder is inserted and appears to connect directly
with one or more other furcations. This furcation is recorded
by placing the symbol in each of the appropriate furcation
areas on the tooth diagram; therefore, more than one
symbol must be used on a tooth to document a Class III situation. If a tooth with a Class III furcation is not critical to
the overall treatment plan, it should be extracted. If its
retention does not jeopardize the overall treatment plan, it
may be maintained. GTR has become a predictable treatment for such teeth only recently. If the tooth is critical and
its retention in a maintainable and useful manner can be
achieved by hemisection or root amputation, such an
approach, although expensive, often can significantly
improve the overall treatment plan for a complex situation.
Additional Readings
Figure 46-1 Classes and appearance of furcation involvements, and

their respective symbol.
92
Carranza FA Jr, Newman MG. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p 640.
Louis: Mosby; 1990. p. 344, 354, 409.
Hemp SE, Nyman S, Lindhe J. Treatment of multi-rooted teeth: results
after 5 years. J Clin Periodontol 1975;2:126.
Lindhe J. Textbook of clinical periodontology. 2nd ed, Copenhagen:
Schluger S et al. Periodontal diseases. 2nd ed, Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger; 1990. p. 541.
Patient with a COMPLEX DENTAL PROBLEM AND A MOLAR WITH A FURCATION INVOLVEMENT
Determine:
What type (class) of furcation involvement exists?
Incipient
(Class I)
Determine:
Is involvement simple,
deep, relating to fused roots?
Simple, early
involvement
Deep, with
fused roots
Document and
monitor on recall
GTR
Definite
(Class II)
Consider:
Horizontal depth
of the furcation
< 3 mm deep
horizontally
Through and through

(Class III)
Consider:
Importance of tooth
to treatment plan
3 mm deep
horizontally
Not critical
Critical
EXTRACT or
maintenance
OSSEOUS
RESECTION AND
POCKET-ELIMINATION
SURGERY
GTR
Consider:
Possibility of root
amputation or hemisection
Would make
tooth useful
Would not make

tooth useful
ROOT AMPUTATION
or HEMISECTION
EXTRACT or
maintenance
GTR
93
47
Powered or Manual Toothbrush

Lisa A. Harpenau
When recommending a toothbrush, many factors must be taken

into account such as periodontal health, manual dexterity, and
patient interest. No one type of toothbrush is considered to be
superior over the other. If a particular toothbrush can be helpful
to a patient, then it should be recommended and encouraged.
A
Physically and/or mentally challenged patients include individuals with a variety of disabilities. Within this category are
persons with debilitating diseases (such as arthritis) and ill
patients under the supervision of a caregiver. Young children who lack brushing skills should also be considered.
patients will need to have their oral hygiene evaluated to

determine their effectiveness in removing plaque.
D
Patients who have adequate oral hygiene skills using a

manual toothbrush can use either a manual or powered
toothbrush.
A powered toothbrush should be recommended for patients

who display poor plaque removal.
Additional Readings
B
94
Physically and/or mentally challenged patients and children with compromised ability to use a manual toothbrush
should use a powered toothbrush.
Individuals who are physically and/or mentally challenged
but are able to use a manual toothbrush and all other
Hall WB. Decision making in periodontology. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby;
1998. p. 92.
Newman MG, Takei H, Carranza FA Jr. Clinical periodontology. 9th ed.
Patient for ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUCTION
Determine:
Is the patient physically and/or
mentally challenged? or a young child?
Physically/mentally
challenged or
a young child
All other patients
Assess:
Dexterity using a
hand toothbrush
Compromised
Not compromised
POWERED
TOOTHBRUSH
Assess:
Is the oral hygiene
adequate?
Satisfactory
MANUAL
TOOTHBRUSH
POWERED
TOOTHBRUSH
Poor
95
48
Adjunctive Plaque-Control Devices

Walter B. Hall
All patients should use a toothbrush, usually employing a sulcular brushing technique. Mechanical toothbrushes (eg, Sonicare, Oral B/Braun) may be more effective for many patients. In
addition, adjunctive devices can help clean interproximal areas.
Ideally, all patients should also use floss daily; however, some
groups of patients are unable to manipulate floss but may be
able to use devices that require less dexterity. When disease is
advanced, interproximal brushes are more effective than floss.
A
Patients with a variety of handicaps are unable to use

floss, usually because of compromised dexterity. Physical
handicaps that restrict arm and hand movement may be
of long-term or short-term duration. Arthritis often creates problems with finger movement. Many older patients
lose dexterity. Many mentally handicapped people, however, can be taught to use floss, although the learning
process may be long and tedious. For the handicapped
who cannot use handheld floss, a floss holder may permit
its use. Thin birchwood sticks shaped to fit interproximal
spaces are easily manipulated and require little dexterity.
In northern Europe, these sticks often are used instead of
floss and achieve good removal of interproximal plaque.
Stimudents are less satisfactory because of their much
larger dimensions. Interproximal brushes, especially
Figure 48-1 A deep fluting in the root structure of a maxillary first

molar that cannot be cleaned by flossing.
96
those with short handles, are excellent devices for the

removal of interproximal plaque. They are particularly
appropriate for patients with loss of attachment and/or
poor dexterity.
B
Not all patients who are able to use floss are willing to do
so regularly. Also, some localized situations are better managed with adjunctive devices (Figures 48-1 and 48-2).
Where roots are close together, certain devices cannot be

inserted into the available space. Where space is adequate,
interproximal brushes, especially those with short handles,
are most effective and easy to use. The Perio Aide (a round
toothpick-holding device) may be quite effective; however, it
is difficult to use and can cause damage if it is pressed into
pockets or is broken off. Superfloss (dental tape with thickened areas at regular intervals) may be effective where plain
floss is not; however, it must be used with a shoeshine
approach, which can produce floss cuts and tooth abrasion.
For situations in which root proximity makes these devices
Figure 48-2 Various adjunctive devices may be used to clean hard-toreach areas.
Patient with PERIODONTITIS
Determine:
Patients dexterity
Handicapped patients; temporarily

or long-term incapacitated persons
Birchwood
sticks
Interproximal
brush
Interproximal
furcations or
fluting in roots
Root
proximity
Floss
holder
No root
proximity
Electric
brush
All other patients
Assess:
Localized situations
Facial or
lingual
furcations
Perio
Aide
End-tuft
brush
Root
proximity
Birchwood
sticks
Distal
surfaces
of most
posterior
teeth
Lingually
tilted
teeth
Sonic
brush
End-tuft
brush
Sonic
brush
Birchwood
sticks
Super
Floss
Perio
Aide
Interproximal
brush
posterior teeth without the missing tufts pushing against the

occlusal surface and restricting contact on the distal surface.
unusable or dangerous, the thin, birchwood sticks may be

effective if furcations are not too badly involved.
D
The Sonicare brush, a mechanical brush that moves at sonic

vibration speed, has proven especially effective; the Braun
brush is equally effective. The end-tuft brush is a singletufted brush designed to clean anatomically difficult areas
such as the distal surfaces of the most distal teeth or isolated
teeth serving as removable partial abutments.
Where roots are close together or irregularly aligned, the

thin birchwood sticks are most effective and easily used.
They are readily available in northern Europe but difficult
to obtain in North America or elsewhere.
Many patients have difficulty removing plaque from the

lingual surfaces of lingually tilted teeth for much the same
reason that the distal surfaces of the most posterior teeth
are difficult to clean. The end-tuft brush may also be used
quite effectively in these situations.
Additional Readings
An end-tuft toothbrush may be purchased for the distal

surfaces of the most posterior teeth, or such a toothbrush
can be made easily with an old brush. All the tufts are cut
off close to the handle, except for the last few nearest the
end of the handle. After these tufts are cut off, the remaining ones can be applied to the distal surface of the most
Gjermo P, Flotra L. The effect of different methods of interdental cleaning. J Periodont Res 1970;5:230.
Gjermo P, Flotra L. The plaque-removing effect of dental floss and toothpicks: a group comparison study. J Periodont Res 1969;4:170.
1990. p. 362.
97
49
Maxillary Molars with

Root Proximity / Periodontal Problems
Walter B. Hall
Maxillary molar teeth with periodontal problems complicated by

root proximity (roots so close together that plaque removal and
root planing cannot be accomplished because plaque-removal
devices and curets cannot be manipulated in the available space)
are a commonly encountered puzzle that has to be solved in
planning the treatment. A surgical procedure that would eliminate pocketing but leave an area where plaque removal by the
patient and root planing by the therapist cannot be performed
effectively is not a wise choice for therapy. Extraction or root
amputation on one or both of the molars can create a sound,
maintainable, functional unit, but this does involve extensive
treatment including endodontics and/or prosthodontics as well
as periodontal treatment. Such treatment is expensive and must
be within the patients means. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR)
is not feasible if root proximity negates the possibility of thorough dbridement of the periodontal defect; however, if the area
can be thoroughly dbrided, GTR can be an effective and comparatively inexpensive approach (Figure 49-1).
A
If the defect between the two molars can be thoroughly

dbrided with a curet or new thin ultrasonic tip after flap
displacement, GTR is the best option.
If GTR is not feasible, the endodontic status of the two

molars should be determined next. If no pulpal problem
exists, a determination should be made whether root canal
therapy and a room amputation can be done. If so, the
restorability of the teeth and their value to the overall treatment plan should be assessed. If restoration is feasible and
useful, and the periodontal problem can be resolved by root
amputation on either or both of the molars (and the patient
consents to and can afford this approach), endodontics followed by root amputation / periodontal surgical therapy
should be performed and the teeth restored appropriately.
If root canal therapy or root amputation cannot be done
(eg, root tips are fused) or if the restorative and periodontal problems cannot be resolved by root amputation, either
or both of the molars may have to be extracted and the
problem resolved prosthodontically or with implants.
C
If either or both of the molars also have endodontic problems, the possibility of performing successful root canal
therapy should be evaluated first. If they can be treated, the
sequence of decision making would be the same as in B,
namely: (1) Can a root amputation be done? (2) Can the
periodontal problem be resolved and the teeth restored to
usefulness in the overall treatment plan? (3) Can the
patient accept and afford this approach?
If the answer to each question is positive, proceed with
endodontics, root amputation / periodontal surgery, and
restoration. If the answer to any of the questions is negative, extraction of one or both molars and a prosthodontic
or implant solution should be considered.
If one or both of the molars have existing endodontics, the

adequacy of the existing endodontics (including cracked
tooth signs or symptoms) should be evaluated first. If the
endodontics are satisfactory, and no vertical root fractures
can be detected, the sequence of decision making would be
the same as in C. If the answer to each question is positive
and no endodontic treatment is needed, root amputation
and elimination of the periodontal defects should be performed and followed by appropriate restoration. If the
answer to each question is positive and the existing
endodontics is unsatisfactory, but it can be redone successfully or the problem is around the root to be amputated, necessary endodontic retreatment followed by root amputation /
periodontal surgery and restoration should be planned. If
any answers are negative, extraction and a prosthodontic or
implant alternative should be used.
Additional Readings
Figure 49-1 Root proximity between second and third molars appears
to jeopardize access to treat or maintain the distal furcation involvement successfully on the second molar. Reproduced with permission
from Hall WB, Roberts WE, LaBarre EE. Decision making in dental
treatment planning, St. Louis: Mosby; 1994.
98
Louis: Mosby; 1990. p. 582, 589.
Hall WB. Periodontal preparation of the mouth for restoration. Dent
Hall WB. Removal of third molars: a periodontal viewpoint. In: McDonald RE et al, editors. Current therapy in dentistry. St. Louis: Mosby;
1980. p. 228.
Nevins M, Mellonig JT. Periodontal therapy: clinical approaches and evidence of success. Tokyo: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 221.
Febiger; 1990. p. 102, 343, 511.
Patient with MAXILLARY MOLARS WITH ROOT PROXIMITY/PERIODONTAL PROBLEMS
A Determine:
Is space available to use GTR?
Space available
or can be made
Space not
available
GTR
Determine:
Is endodontic treatment needed?
No pulpal
problems
Pulpal
problems
Existing
endodontically
treated teeth
Needs
retreatment
Satisfactory
Determine:
Can successful endodontic
treatment be done?
Yes
No
EXTRACT
Determine:
Can root amputation be done with resolution of periodontal problem?
No
Yes
Consider:
Restorability of treated case
EXTRACT
either or
both
molars
Not usefully
restorable
ROOT
AMPUTATION
and restore
Endodontics,
ROOT
AMPUTATION,
and restore
ROOT
AMPUTATION
and restore
EXTRACT
Prosthodontic
or implant
replacement
99
50
Periodontally Compromised Potential Abutment Teeth

Walter B. Hall
One of the most complex decisions a dentist must make regularly involves determining the adequacy of periodontally
involved teeth to function as abutments in a restorative treatment plan. The dentist must decide by weighing the pros and
cons of each of the many factors involved. The patient must be
informed of and able to cope with various degrees of uncertainty in such complex decisions and must be able to afford the
cost of the whole treatment plan before proceeding. If the
patient elects not to proceed, the dentist must advise the patient
of the probable consequences of this decision. Such complex situations require careful documentation.
A
The status of the attachment of the potential abutment

tooth is extremely important. A tooth with more than 50%
loss of attachment (LOA) is a poor risk as an abutment;
however, if that tooth has a narrow, three-walled osseous
defect, it is a candidate for a bone regeneration procedure.
There is a reasonable likelihood of success sufficient to
change the prognosis for the tooth. In situations in which
guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has a strong probability of
success (see Chapters 78 and 79), a tooth that would be a
poor abutment can be converted to one that may make a
good-to-excellent abutment. If this situation does not exist,
and the tooth has lost more than half its support, it is
unlikely to be a good abutment risk. If the tooth has moderate LOA, it has a reasonable prognosis for successful use
as an abutment. If it has little LOA, it is a good candidate.
The status of the crown of the potential abutment area is

important. If it is badly broken down, it is a poorer candidate than if it can be restored readily. Crown lengthening
can improve the potential restorability of some poorer candidates (see Chapter 149).
The pulpal status affects the potential of a tooth to be used

as an abutment. If the tooth has been endodontically
treated but either requires further treatment (ie, apicoectomy) or retreatment or appears to have a cracked root,
its usefulness as an abutment depends on the likelihood of
success of the additional treatment. If its root is cracked or
it cannot be retreated, it is not a potential abutment. If the
earlier endodontic procedure appears satisfactory, the tooth
usually is a good potential abutment. If the tooth has an
untreated pulpal problem, its potential for use as an abutment depends on factors affecting the probability for successful endodontic treatment (ie, accessibility of root canals,
presence of pulp stones, internal resorption). If the tooth is
treatable, it has good potential as an abutment. A tooth
with a healthy pulp, however, is almost always a better
abutment candidate than is an endodontically treated one
because endodontically treated teeth become more brittle
and more susceptible to fractures.
The alignment of a tooth affects its usefulness as an abutment. A significantly malposed tooth that cannot be orthodontically moved into good alignment is a poor potential
abutment. Some periodontally involved teeth are good candidates for orthodontic movement and can become fair-togood candidates for use as abutments, but only at considerable cost to the patient both in time and money. A tooth
already in normal or usual alignment is always a better candidate for use as an abutment.
The number of other abutment teeth and their periodontal

statuses affect the potential usability of the tooth in question
Root form is another important factor to assess. Several

radiographs of the tooth can be used to give an important
conceptualization of the form for the root (Figure 50-1).
Figure 50-1 Molar teeth have fused or spread roots. The spread type
usually provide better support as an abutment for restoration replacing
a missing tooth.
100
Exploration of furcations on a multirooted tooth can provide useful information on its potential cleansability. Teeth
with small or cone-shaped roots are poor abutments compared with those with large roots (or flared roots on multirooted teeth). If a molar has a Class II furcation involvement that is involved 3 mm or more horizontally, it is a
good candidate for GTR with eventual use as an abutment
(see Chapter 88). If a molar has a through-and-through
involvement, GTR may be used or root amputation or
hemisection may make its remaining parts useful as an
abutment if the patient can afford that approach (see Chapter 72). A molar with minimal furcation involvement and
flared roots, however, is a good abutment candidate, even
where pocket- elimination surgery is used.
Patient with a PERIODONTALLY COMPROMISED POTENTIAL ABUTMENT TOOTH

Determine:
Factors involved
More than half lost
Attachment
status
GTR not possible
Poor
Defects amenable to GTR
Fair
Moderate loss
Fair
Little loss
Good
Small or cone-shaped roots
Root
form
Large or flared roots
Crown
status
Pulpal
status
Badly involved
Poor
Little involved
Good
Furcation
involvements
Broken down
Poor
Restorable
Good
Endodontically
treated
Poor
Radiography
Pulpal
disease
Unsatisfactory
Untreatable
Hopeless
Retreatable
Fair
Sound
Good
Untreatable
Poor
Treatable
Good
Healthy
Malposed
Alignment
Good
Not orthodontically treatable
Poor
Orthodontically treatable
Fair to good
Normal position
Few
Much LOA
Poor
Little LOA
Fair
Much LOA
Poor
Many
Little LOA
Good
Old
Unhealthy
Poor
Healthy
Fair
Unhealthy
Fair
Healthy
Good
Additional
abutments
Age/health
Young
as an abutment. If few other potential abutments are present and they have much LOA, the tooth in question is a
poorer candidate for use as an abutment because more will
be demanded of it. If the other potential abutments,
although few, have little LOA, the tooth in question is a
better candidate. If there are many additional potential
abutment teeth, but all or most have significant LOA, the
potential use of the tooth in question is less. If the other
potential abutments have lost little attachment, the tooth in
question has better possibilities for use as an abutment.
G
Good
Other factors (such as plaque-removal skills of the patient

and regularity of dental care) must be weighed by the dentist and patient in deciding the potential for a periodontally
involved tooth to be used as an abutment. Age and health
are two essential factors, however. In one sense, older
patients have poorer prognoses than younger patients
because their healing capabilities may be lower. In another

sense, older patients have better prognoses in that their
teeth and dental work will not have to last as long on the
average. A potential abutment tooth that is periodontally
compromised in an otherwise healthy patient has a better
prognosis in general than does such a tooth in an
unhealthy mouth.
Additional Readings
Mosby; 1988. p. 982.
Febiger; 1990. p. 341.
101
51
Periodontal Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Therapy

mined. Metronidazole and amoxicillin (250 mg each) given

in combination three times daily for 8 days has been shown
effective against Porphyremonas gingivalis and Actinobacillus
actinomycetemcomitans. Augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid) may be preferred to amoxicillin because it incorporates the -lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid.
Ciprofloxacin is useful when enteric organisms are cultured,
but it should not be used in patients who are under 18 years
of age. Ciprofloxacin can also be given in combination with
metronidazole (500 mg each) taken twice daily for 8 days.
Clindamycin should be used with caution because of its
association with pseudomembranous colitis, which can
prove to be fatal. Locally controlled delivery of antibiotics
can be considered for localized aggressive or refractory sites;
however, few data are available for controlled delivery products in treating these forms of periodontal disease. Actisite
(tetracycline fibers), Arestin (minocycline microspheres),
and Atridox (doxycycline gel) are commercially available in
the United States. PerioChip is another locally controlled
delivery product that delivers the antiseptic chlorhexidine.
Bacterial plaque is accepted as the primary etiologic agent in the

establishment and progression of inflammatory periodontal disease. Recognition of the bacterial etiology has stimulated considerable interest in antimicrobial agents as adjuncts to mechanical
periodontal therapy. Today, antibiotics and antimicrobial rinses
have a role in periodontal therapy as an adjunct to dbridement,
but their use should not be indiscriminate and it is not without
potential hazards. The clinician should be thoroughly familiar
with all of the potentially adverse reactions before prescribing or
recommending any chemotherapeutic agent.
A
Patients treated with antibiotic therapy should be closely

monitored for therapeutic response and potential side effects.
Patients who fail to respond to therapy may require a culture
of the subgingival flora with evaluation of antibiotic sensitivity. Pretreatment and post-treatment microbiologic analysis
may prove useful in monitoring therapeutic success.
Periodontal abscess, periocoronitis, and necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) are acute diseases often requiring
emergency treatment. Treatment of the acute signs and
symptoms is generally best accomplished with local
dbridement. Antibiotics are usually unnecessary, unless
the patient is febrile, exhibits lymphadenopathy, is in danger of developing cellulitis, or does not respond to local
dbridement within 24 hours. If an antibiotic is indicated,
amoxicillin or penicillin is the drug of choice. Cephalexin or
clindamycin can be used if the infection is not responding
in 24 to 48 hours. If the patient is allergic to penicillin,
azithromycin or clindamycin are good alternatives.
Metronidazole has been used in the treatment of NUG and
necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP).
Antibiotics generally offer no advantage over conventional

periodontal therapy (ie, mechanical plaque control, root
planing, elimination of secondary local factors, periodontal
surgery, and maintenance) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Consider using local controlled delivery products
(Actisite [tetracycline fibers], Arestin [minocycline microspheres], and Atridox [doxycycline gel]) as an adjunct to
dbridement in treating recurrent disease.
Antibiotics can be useful adjuncts to conventional therapy

in the treatment of aggressive and refractory periodontitis.
Collection of subgingival microbial samples with antibiotic
sensitivity testing should be considered. Tetracycline
hydrochloride, doxycycline, metronidazole, clindamycin,
ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, metronidazole in
combination with amoxicillin, and metronidazole in combination with ciprofloxacin have all been used. Although systemic antibiotics have been shown to be an effective adjunctive therapy in treating aggressive and refractory forms of
periodontitis, optimal dosing regimens have not been deter-
102
NUP occurs as a more acute periodontal lesion characterized by tissue necrosis and sequestration. Treatment of such
acute conditions can be augmented with metronidazole
(250500 mg) given three to four times daily for 7 days.
The patients physician should be consulted before antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
Chemical plaque control represents an attractive adjunct to

mechanical plaque control; thus several products are now
being marketed as chemical plaque inhibitors. Current
information suggests that some commercial mouth rinses
and toothpastes can reduce plaque and decrease gingival
inflammation. Supragingival and subgingival irrigation has
been evaluated as an alternative mode of delivery for some
of these mouth rinses. Irrigation has an apparent advantage
over rinsing in that it increases the ability of the product to
reach the subgingival flora. Compliance and the requirement for some level of patient dexterity are problems commonly associated with irrigation. Although these products
can reduce gingival inflammation, little information is
available regarding the use of these products as rinses or
irrigants in preventing and treating periodontitis. Only
Peridex (chlorhexidine gluconate) and Listerine (and
generic formulations of Listerine), mouth rinses, and Total
toothpaste (triclosan) have been accepted by the American
Dental Associations Council on Dental Therapeutics as
antiplaque/antigingivitis agents.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of chlorhexidine when used in the control of
supragingival plaque and gingivitis. The most appropriate
use of chlorhexidine seems to be as a short-term adjunct to
Patient for PERIODONTAL ANTIBIOTIC/ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPY
Determine:
Is problem to be treated systemically or locally?
Systemic
antibiotics
Determine:
Is an adjunct to mechanical plaque
control needed briefly or longer?
B Assess: Need for immediate treatment?
Yes
No
Periodontal
abscess
NUG
Pericoronitis
Periodontitis
Short-term use
Gingivitis
NUG
Postperiodontal surgery
NUP
Febrile
Lymphadenopathy
Danger of cellulitis
Not febrile
No lymphadenopathy
No danger of cellulitis
Treatment:
Amoxicillin
Penicillin
Clindamycin
Azithromycin
Treatment with
antibiotics
generally
unnecessary
Long-term use
Treatment:
Chlorhexidine
(Peridex/PerioGard)
Phenolic compound
(Listerine, generics)
Triclosan (Total)
Quaternary ammonium
compounds (Cepacol,
Scope, Viadent)
Treatment:
Chlorhexidine
(Peridex/PerioGard)
Determine: Nature of periodontitis problem
D
C
Aggressive/refractory
periodontitis
Chronic
periodontitis
Treatment with
systemic antibiotics
generally unnecessary;
consider controlled
delivery for treating
recurrent disease
NUP
Consult physician
Generalized refractory or aggressive:
Use systemic antibiotics:
Doxycycline/tetracycline
Metronidazole
Clindamycin
Augmentin (amoxicillin)
Ciprofloxacin
Metronidazole plus amoxicillin
Ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole
mechanical plaque control. Short-term use of chlorhexidine

during the initial healing phase after periodontal surgery
may represent one useful application; gingival and dentinal
sensitivity often hamper mechanical plaque-control efforts
postsurgically. Treatment of NUG and NUP requires professional dbridement followed by proper home care. Initially,
because of gingival discomfort, proper mechanical plaque
control is difficult for these patients to achieve. Short-term
use of chlorhexidine during the treatment of NUG or NUP
can represent another useful application.
H
Oral antimicrobial rinses/irrigants;

toothpastes
The clinician should evaluate carefully the risk-to-benefit

ratio before recommending long-term use of Peridex or
PerioGard (0.12% chlorhexidine). Stain, altered taste, and
increased supragingival calculus can be expected. Stain is
Metronidazole
Localized refractory:
Controlled delivery or
systemic antibiotics
especially a problem around composite restorations. Several other over-the-counter antimicrobial rinses are available, and they have shown some efficacy in reducing
plaque and gingivitis. Most of these agents are also associated with varying degrees of tooth discoloration, and some
cause a temporary burning sensation. Total toothpaste (triclosan) should also be considered for long-term use.
Additional Readings
Systemic antibiotics in periodontics. J Periodontal 1996;67:831.
Ciancio SG. Antiseptics and antibiotics as chemotherapeutic agents for
periodontitis management. Compendium 2000;21:59.
The role of controlled drug delivery for periodontitis. J Periodontol
2000;71:125.
103
52
Extraneous Factors That May Influence Treatment Planning

Walter B. Hall
Treatment planning may be altered for nonscientific, nonmedical, and nondental reasons, which may not be entirely logical
to the practitioner. When these issues surface, they may rule out
the treatment that the practitioner feels would be the most
effective; however, these strongly held views of individual
patients must be respected. The practitioner can agree to choose
a less promising approach or refer the patient to another practitioner.
A
Some patients may reject a proposed regenerative procedure because it includes the use of bovine xenographic
material (see Chapter 95). Such a consideration may relate
to religious beliefs (in the case of persons of the Hindu
faith). An alternative approach, human allographic material could be utilized (see Chapter 96).
Various fears may prevent some patients from agreeing to

specific treatments. Bovine xenographic material may be
rejected by a patient who fears mad cow disease. No scientific basis for this fear exists; however, the patients concerns may necessitate using an alternative regenerative
approach. Little is understood about prions, which cause
mad cow disease.
Similarly, a patient may fear being exposed to the human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) if human allographic bone is
to be used in a regenerative approach. Though all credible
evidence indicates that allographic bone supplied by various
agencies (eg, Red Cross) is safe, the patients wishes should
be respected, and an alternative regenerative approach (perhaps a bovine xenographic material) could be considered.
Some patients fears may be such that they cannot consider

any surgical approach. This fear is the most common one
the practitioner may face. Maintenance therapy, regular
supportive periodontal therapy visits may be the only
viable option. Documenting the informed consent for this
decision is very important.
Whenever any of these extraneous factors leads to a decision

to choose an alternative to the approach that the practitioner
believes would be most effective, the practitioner must decide
whether he or she is willing to proceed as the patient wishes
or not. If he or she is unwilling to change his approach, the
dentist may refer the patient to another practitioner.
Additional Reading
Ramfjord SP et al. Four modalities of periodontal treatment compared
over 5 years. J Clin Periodontal 1987;14:445.
104
Patient considering PROPOSED PERIODONTAL SURGERY
Patient expresses disapproval

of the proposed plan for various
extraneous reasons
Religious beliefs
Patient rejects use of a

bovine xenographic
material (see Chapter 95)
Mad cow
disease
Fears
HIV infection
Patient rejects use of a

human allographic
material (see Chapter 96)
ALTERNATIVE
REGENERATIVE
APPROACH
Any surgery
Patient rejects use

of any surgery
MAINTENANCE
E Decide:
Are you, the practitioner, willing to utilize a less

promising means of treatment?
Yes
Treat as the patient wishes with

documented informed consent
No
Refer to an alternate
practitioner
105
B) PURE MUCOGINGIVAL PROBLEMS

53 Establishing the Adequacy of Attached Gingiva
Walter B. Hall
54 Active Recession versus Stability
Walter B. Hall
55 Restorative Plans and Gingival Augmentation
Walter B. Hall
56 Orthodontics and Gingival Augmentation
Walter B. Hall
57 Mucogingival Needs of Patients Planning Orthodontics: A European View
Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, Carlo Clauser, Giliana Zuccati, Tiziano Baccetti, and
Roberto Rotundo
58 Orthodontic Approaches for Patients with Periodontal Problems
Giovan Paolo Pino-Prato, Tiziano Baccetti, Roberto Rotundo, Francesco Cairo, and
Leonardo Muzzi
59 Prevention of Recession
Walter B. Hall
60 Recession Treatment: Root Coverage or Not?
Walter B. Hall
61 Free Gingival Graft, Connective Tissue Graft, or Guided Tissue Augmentation
Walter B. Hall
PART 8 Treatment Planning and Treatment: Pure Mucogingival Problems
53
Establishing the Adequacy of Attached Gingiva

Walter B. Hall
A tooth with a minimal amount of attached gingiva on its facial

or lingual surface should be indicated as a potential pure
mucogingival problem. The term inadequate attached gingiva was
coined during the 1960s and has been defined loosely by many
investigators. Rather than being a fixed number of millimeters
of attached gingiva, this term refers to a clinical estimate by the
treating dentist of the adequacy of the attached gingiva on an
individual tooth to remain stable and healthy under conditions
imposed by any planned dental treatment or in the absence of
any dental treatment involving the tooth (Figure 53-1). Hall
(1984) defined attached gingiva as that gingiva extending from
the free margin of the gingiva to the mucogingival line minus
the pocket or sulcus depth measured with a thin probe in the
absence of inflammation. That the gingiva is inadequate in
an individual case is a clinical decision made by the treating
dentist based on a judgment of the tooths needs in the patients
overall treatment plan. The decision on the need to treat is
made with the concurrence of the informed patient (or parent).
A
gingiva. In such an instance, the need for grafting would be

treated similarly to any situation with 1 mm or less of
attached gingiva. Grafting may still be required if the tooth
functions as an abutment for a rest-proximal plate-I (RPI)
bar-type removable partial denture or an overdenture.
B
For teeth with less than 1 mm of attached gingiva, the

patients age must be considered. Younger children are
more likely than older patients to require treatment
because of the longer time they can (as a group) expect to
keep their teeth.
If a young patient has less than 1 mm of attached gingiva

on a tooth and is having active recession (ie, any root exposure at this age), consider using a graft on a periosteal bed,
which has a high predictability of success. This is preferable
to using a graft that depends on new attachment to an
exposed root. If the young patient has no recession but
restorative procedures (such as Class V restoration) or
orthodontic treatment is planned, observe the area for
change at all future visits rather than grafting at this time.
If the patient is older, has less than 1 mm of attached gingiva on a tooth, and has active recession, consider augmentation. If the situation appears stable (with or without root
exposure), the need to treat depends on restorative or
orthodontic plans. If crowns, bridges, RPI partials, or overdentures are planned involving this tooth or if orthodontic
work is planned, consider augmentation; if not, observe the
area for evidence of recession at later dates.
If the patient has 2 mm or more of attached gingiva on a

tooth that will not serve as an abutment for an RPI removable partial or an overdenture, grafting does not need to be
considered. If such a restoration is planned, however, the
tooth may require grafting to create at least 3 mm of
attached gingiva over which the RPI clasp would be positioned or to support the movement resulting from an overdenture. If the tooth has 3 mm or more of attached gingiva,
grafting is not likely to be needed.
A simple guideline for determining whether a pure

mucogingival problem exists is to record all areas with less
than 2 mm of total gingiva as being potential problems
because they will have 1 mm or less attached gingiva when
the crevice depth is subtracted from the total gingiva. This
does not mean that all such cases require grafting. Conversely, although a tooth may have more than 2 mm of
total gingiva, it may still have 1 mm or less of attached gingiva when the crevice depth is subtracted from the total
Additional Readings
Figure 53-1 A probe in the sulcus illustrating the difference between

clinically and histologically attached gingiva.
106
American Academy of Periodontology. World Workshop in Clinical

Periodontics. Nevins M, Becker N, Kornman K eds. Chicago: 1989.
p. VII10.
Hall WB. Present status of soft tissue grafting. J Periodontol 1977;48:587.
1984. p. 61.
Lang NP, Loe H. The relationship between the width of the attached gingiva and gingival health. J Periodontol 1972;43:623.
Maynard JG, Wilson RDK. Physiologic dimensions of the periodontium
significant to the restorative dentist. J Periodontol 1979;50:170.
Patient with INADEQUATE ATTACHED GINGIVA
A Record:
Total gingiva
2 mm
> 2 mm
Estimate:
Attached gingiva
1 mm
1 mm
2 mm
D Record:
B Record:
Patients age
Patients age
Younger
RPI or
overdenture
planned
Older
No RPI or
overdenture
planned
C Assess:
Recession
Consider:
Attached gingiva
Active
recession
No
recession
Inactive
recession
Active
recession
< 3 mm
Consider:
Augmentation
procedures
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFT
GUIDED TISSUE
REGENERATION
Consider:
Planned treatment
Restorative
and/or
orthodontic
treatment
planned
No restorative
and/or
orthodontic
treatment
planned
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
Observe
for change
Need more
for abutment
Adequate for
abutment
Consider:
Augmentation
procedures
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFT
3 mm
Augmentation
not needed
GUIDED TISSUE
REGENERATION
107
54
Active Recession versus Stability

Walter B. Hall
When a dentist detects a tooth that has little or no attached gingiva, he or she should determine whether the situation is stable
or active recession is occurring before any additional attached
gingiva is created. If a tooth predisposed to recession is in a stable state, there is no impetus to graft; whereas, there would be
if active recession were occurring.
A
108
When a tooth that is predisposed to recession because of lack

of adequate attached gingiva has no root exposure, the situation is stable. If restorative or orthodontic treatment plans
indicate that recession could be precipitated on the predisposed tooth by this treatment, consider prophylactic free gingival grafting. If no such treatment is planned, inform the
patient about the problem and evaluate the tooth regularly
for indications of change. The dentist and patient together
may decide to proceed with restorative work or orthodontics
without grafting prophylactically. If recession occurs or progresses, a connective tissue graft (CTG) (see Chapter 109)
usually would be the treatment of choice in attempting to
repair the receded area; however, guided tissue regeneration
(GTR) is another option, especially if no adequate fatty donor
site for the CTG is present.
If root exposure is present, earlier records are helpful in
determining whether recession is active or the condition is
stable. If such records exist and indicate that the situation is
stable, continue to observe the area unless restorative or
orthodontic plans indicate the need to create more gingiva
before proceeding. If comparison with earlier records
demonstrates that recession has occurred, CT grafting is
indicated because it is a more predictable means of covering roots with recession than is free gingival grafting. When
this option is not possible, GTR is the choice.
C
If no earlier records exist, only the patients impressions are

available to help with the decision whether to graft or not.
If the patient believes that recession is occurring actively, a
CTG should be considered. If the patient believes that the
root exposure occurred earlier and is stable now, document
the problem area and observe it regularly for change unless
restorative or orthodontic plans indicate a need to graft
now. If there are no earlier records, and the patient cannot
provide an impression as to the stability of the area of root
exposure, document and observe the area regularly for
change unless other treatment, which is planned, indicates
a need to graft now. If treatment is needed now or in the
future, CTG or GTR would be the options.
Additional Readings
1984. p. 178.
Nevins M, Mellonig JT. Periodontal therapy: clinical approaches and
evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 279,
293.
Rateitschak KH, Egli V, Fingeli G. Recession: a four-year longitudinal
study after free gingival grafts. J Clin Periodontol 1979;6:158.
Wilson RD. Marginal tissue recession in general practice: a preliminary
study. Int J Periodontol Res Dent 1983;3:41.
Patient with a TOOTH PREDISPOSED TO RECESSION
Assess:
Root exposure
No root
exposure
Condition
is stable
Significant
root exposure
Determine:
Is recession
new or stable?
Earlier records
available that
indicate recession
is old and stable
New restorative
or orthodontic
treatment indicated
Document
Observe
for change
Patient
may select
FREE GINGIVAL
GRAFT
Document
Observe
for change
If recedes,
CTG or GTR
Document
Observe
for change
Patient has
impression
of status
Patient
believes
recession
active
CTG or
GTR
No earlier
records
available
Patient has
no impression
of status
Patient
believes
condition
stable
Document
Observe for change
If recedes,
CTG or GTR
109
55
Restorative Plans and Gingival Augmentation

Walter B. Hall
On determining that a tooth that is predisposed to recession by

lack of adequate attached gingiva has restorative needs or is
going to be used as an abutment, the dentist must decide
whether grafting to increase the band of attached gingiva is indicated. The patient who elects not to proceed with a graft when
indicated must be informed of the potential problems.
A
If the predisposed tooth requires restoration, the type of

restoration and its locale are most important. If the restoration is a Class V but is to be supragingival, there is no need to
graft. If the Class V restoration is to be close to the gingival
margin or subgingival, consider a graft. If the restoration is to
be of any other class, grafting does not need to be considered.
If the predisposed tooth requires a crown, and the crown
margins are to be supragingival, there is no need to graft.
However, if the crown margin is to be placed at the gingival
margin or subgingivally, grafting is indicated because the
diamond bur will cut soft tissue as well as tooth structure
when carried subgingivally and will induce recession as a
consequence of the soft-tissue curettage. If the entire crown
of the tooth is to be visible and recession would expose a
chamfer or shoulder, the patient must be aware that not
grafting is likely to result in a visible gold margin apical to
the porcelain. Grafting beforehand is strongly encouraged,
because the successful covering of such an exposed chamfer
or shoulder surgically after crown placement is exceedingly
unlikely (Figure 55-1).
If the predisposed tooth is to become an abutment for a fixed

bridge, consider grafting whether or not a subgingival margin will be placed in the area of inadequate attached gingiva
because cleaning under the pontic or between it and the
tooth is likely to produce recession. If a three-quarter crown
design is to be used, grafting should be considered, but is not
as essential as when a full-crown restoration is to be placed.
If the predisposed tooth will serve as an abutment for a

rest-proximal plate-I (RPI) bar-type removable partial denture, a graft should be placed sufficiently large enough that
the entire I-bar is over the gingiva. If this is not done, the
patient who removes the partial denture by placing a fingernail under the apical end of the I-bar is likely to cause
wounding and induce recession (see Figure 55-1). A graft
usually cannot be placed under an existing I-bar, because
the space is inadequate for a graft of sufficient thickness to
be placed; therefore, a new partial denture would have to
be constructed after grafting.
If the predisposed tooth is to be used as an abutment for an

overdenture, much the same situation applies. If recession
occurs, which is likely when a full denture is placed in the
area, the denture could be relieved and a graft placed, or the
denture could be left out while the graft heals. In either situation, the graft is likely to be moved aboutand to fail.
Instead, a large flange of acrylic must be cut away, the graft
placed, and the overdenture rebased after healing is completed. The more advisable course is to graft on any predisposed tooth before the overdenture treatment begins. If a
graft is to be placed for restorative reasons, the type to be used
involves considering the options among free gingival grafts,
pedicle grafts, or connective tissue grafts (see Chapter 112).
Additional Readings
Figure 55-1 Recession of 3 mm has occurred on the canine (which had

inadequate attached gingiva) after crown placement.
110
American Academy of Periodontology. World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics. Chicago: The Academy; 1989. p. VII16.
Genco EJ, Goldman HM, Cohen DW. Contemporary periodontics. St.
1984. p. 41.
Maynard JG, Wilson RD. Physiologic dimensions of the periodontium
significant to the restorative dentist. J Periodontol 1979;50:170.
Nevins M, Mellonig JT. Periodontal therapy: clinical approaches and evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 286, 291.
Patient has tooth with ATTACHED GINGIVA INADEQUATE FOR RESTORATION
Restoration
planned
Class V
Marginal or
subgingival
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
Crown
planned
Other
Supragingival
margins
No need
to graft
No need
to graft
Bridge
abutment
Marginal or
subgingival
margins
Threequarter
crown
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
Consider:
FREE
GINGIVAL GRAFT
RPI partial
abutment
Overdenture
abutment
Full
crown
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
Supragingival
No need
to graft
111
56
Orthodontics and Gingival Augmentation

Walter B. Hall
the bristle tips contact the teeth and gingiva. The bulkiness
of the brush thus positioned causes the lip to press the
brush heavily against prominent root surfaces, especially in
areas where frena are present. These are the same areas
where minimal attached gingiva is present. The patient
who struggles to meet the orthodontists requests for especially good daily plaque removal may wound these predisposed areas, producing recession (Figure 56-1). The dentist
and patient, and parent when appropriate, should consider
gingival grafting of mandibular incisors and all canines that
have pure mucogingival problems before orthodontic treatment is initiated. The option of waiting and augmenting
gingiva if recession occurs must be considered with the
patient, and parent, as well. The same considerations apply
for patients who have completed correction of overbite/
overjet discrepancy problems.
A patient planning to have orthodontic treatment may have

pure mucogingival problems. The dentist must be aware of the
relationship of and the correct sequence of treatment for orthodontic and pure mucogingival problems when they occur
together. Orthodontic and pure mucogingival problems are
related, but not in a cause-and-effect manner. A tooth that
erupts in a position in which it is in prominent version, and thus
prone to occlusal trauma, also is likely to have erupted with
minimal attached gingiva. The two problems are related and
occur together frequently, but (to repeat) not in a cause-andeffect relationship. Both relate to the prominent eruptive position of the tooth. Understanding this relationship is most important in planning therapy for these cases.
A
The age of the patient is important in deciding the way to

sequence treatment of combined pure mucogingival and
orthodontic problems.
If the patient is young and has an overbite/overjet discrepancy that prohibits free gingival grafting on mandibular
incisors before some orthodontic movement, proceed with
some orthodontic treatment in the maxillary arch before
grafting, so that the graft will not be disturbed directly
when the patient closes in centric relation. Adult patients in
good periodontal health should be treated similarly.
If the young patient does not have an overbite/overjet

problem but has pure mucogingival problems, consider
grafting before beginning orthodontic treatment, because
the placement of a vestibular arch wire will alter the
approach to brushing. After the arch wire is placed, the
brush must be positioned apically to it and turned so that
Figure 56-1 Illustration of a recession that a patient with inadequate

attached gingiva experienced after the start of orthodontic treatment.
112
With predisposed first premolars, another aspect of orthodontic therapy must be considered. In many orthodontic
situations, four first premolars or two first premolars are
extracted to create space for realignment of the remaining
teeth. If a first premolar has minimal attached gingiva and
is going to be extracted, there is no pure mucogingival concern. If the predisposed tooth is to be retained, however,
the need to consider grafting before orthodontic treatment
is most important.
If periodontitis is present in the adult patient, the status of

potential anchor teeth must be considered first. A molar
with a definite furcation involvement or worse is not a
good candidate to serve as an anchor tooth without prior
successful guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Some teeth
with deep pockets may have to be extracted; others may be
moved into or out of periodontal defects after inflammation
is controlled and prognoses have improved. If mucogingival-osseous and pure mucogingival problems exist, their
surgical treatment usually is accomplished at the same
time. In adult orthodontic cases for which one objective is
to move a periodontally involved tooth into or out of an
osseous defect prior to surgery, the pure mucogingival
grafting procedure may be delayed until after the orthodontic goal has been achieved. Then the mucogingivalosseous and pure mucogingival problems can be treated
together surgically, if indicated. If there are no periodontitis problems requiring uprighting, and no orthodontic
movement into defects is being considered, mucogingivalosseous surgery may be used to correct pocketing and pure
mucogingival problems via an apically positioned flap (see
Chapter 90). If problems amenable to GTR exist (see Chapter 85), that approach should be used before or after orthodontic treatment as a means of regaining lost attachment
and creating a greater band of attached gingiva.
Orthodontic patient with PURE MUCOGINGIVAL PROBLEMS
Determine:
Patients age
Young patient
Adult patient
Assess:
Periodontitis present or not?
Assess:
Overbite/overjet
discrepancy or not?
Yes
Periodontitis
not present
No
Create space
Assess:
Overbite/overjet discrepancy or not?
Yes
No
Create space
Periodontitis
present
Consider:
Grafting before orthodontics or augmenting if recession occurs
Patient elects
to treat before
orthodontics
Patient elects
to wait for
recession
First premolars
to be extracted
Usually not possible to

treat overjet/overbite
discrepancy before surgery
Periodontitis
involved teeth
to be uprighted
or moved into
osseous defects
No periodontitis
involved teeth
to be uprighted
or moved into
osseous defects
Resolve
inflammation
Appropriate
periodontal
SURGERY
EXTRACT
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
No
recession
Recession
occurs
Maintenance
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
GRAFT or GTR
Appropriate
periodontal
SURGERY
Additional Readings
Periodontics. Chicago: The Academy; 1989. p. VII2.
Boyd RL. Mucogingival considerations and their relationship to orthodontics. J Periodontol 1978;49:67.
Coatoam GW, Behrents RG, Bissada NF. The width of traumatized gingiva during orthodontic treatment. J Periodontol 1981;52:307.
Dorfman HS. Mucogingival changes resulting from mandibular incisor
tooth movement. Am J Orthod 1978;74:286.
Hall WB. Can attached gingiva be increased non-surgically? Quint Int

1982;13:455.
1984. p. 44.
Nevins M, Mellonig JT. Periodontal therapy: clinical approaches and evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 158,
294.
113
57
Mucogingival Needs of Patients Planning Orthodontics:

A European View
Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, Carlo Clauser, Giliana Zuccati, Tiziano Baccetti, and Roberto Rotundo
114
patients who do not exhibit good plaque control in the areas

of recession may require mucogingival procedures, such as
free gingival graft (FGG), guided tissue regeneration (GTR),
or apically positioned flap (APF), often for root coverage.
Proper plaque control is crucial during orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic appliances are a factor in plaque retention, which can cause gingivitis. Additionally, the patient is
required to use a more traumatic method of toothbrushing.
Traumatic toothbrushing and plaque accumulation are the
main etiologic factors in the development of recession.
Local plaque removal may be impaired by anatomic

mucogingival conditions, such as inadequate attached gingiva, shallow vestibule, and pulling frena. These conditions
should be corrected before orthodontic treatment.
Buccolingual thickness rather than apicocoronal extent
of the gingiva may be considered as a locus minoris resistentiae for the development of recession in relation to the
direction of planned orthodontic movement. An orthodontic movement that tends to position the tooth within the
alveolar bone (generally a lingual movement) is considered
a favorable one. On the contrary, a movement that tends to
position the tooth outside of the alveolar bone (generally a
buccal movement) is considered an unfavorable one. When
an unfavorable orthodontic movement is planned, and the
gingiva is thin, an augmentation procedure to increase the
gingival thickness should be considered.
Additional Readings
When an unfavorable orthodontic movement is scheduled

on a tooth with existing gingival recession, treatment of the
recession should be performed prior to orthodontic therapy.
On the contrary, favorable orthodontic movement, in the
presence of adequate plaque control, may result in a reduction of the gingival recession; therefore, appropriate monitoring of the patient should be carried out. Due to esthetic
requirements of the patient at the end of the orthodontic
treatment, root coverage procedures may be needed. Despite
favorable orthodontic movement, gingival recession in
Pini-Prato GP, Baccetti T, Magnani C, Agudio G, Cortellini P. Mucogingival interceptive surgery of bucally erupted premolars in patients
scheduled for orthodontic treatment. I. A 7-year longitudinal study.
Wennstrom JL, Lindhe J, Sinclair P, Thilander B. Some periodontal tissue reactions to orthodontic tooth movement in monkeys. J Clin
Zachrisson BU. Orthodontics and periodontics. In: Lindhe J et al, editors.
Clinical periodontology and implant dentistry. Copenhagen:
Munksgaard; 1997.
Ectopic tooth eruption may lead to mucogingival problems. The ectopic tooth may be completely unerupted, in
either a submucosal position or a deep infraosseous location. In a case of superficial impaction, an APF can be performed. In case of infraosseous impaction, orthodontic
treatment is aimed to guide the tooth to the center of the
alveolar ridge. Each of these therapeutic approaches may be
considered as preventive procedures to maintain a physiologic amount of gingiva.
Buccally erupting teeth can entrap and destroy the gingiva between the erupting cusp and the deciduous tooth.
This entrapped tissue can be saved and used as donor material to create a satisfactory width of gingiva for the permanent tooth. Different interceptive mucogingival procedures
may be performed depending upon the distance from the
erupting cusp to the mucogingival junction (MGJ).
Patient planning ORTHODONTICS
General oral hygiene
Good
Poor
No treatment
Assess state of eruption
Erupted teeth
Pseudopocket
Insufficient crown
length (for placement
of brackets)
Gingival
hypertrophy
Good
Monitor
Favorable
Insufficient crown
length (for placement
of brackets)
Poor
Consider
gingivectomy
or APF
Good
Monitor (evaluate esthetics

for treatment of residual
recessions)
Apicocoronal
Monitor
Poor local
hygiene
Determine:
Pulling
frenum
or not
Yes
Frenectomy +
FGG
Poor
Treatment of
recession:
FGG or GTR
or APF
Buccolingual
Unerupted teeth
Good local
hygiene
Unfavorable
Evaluation
local plaque
control
Gingivectomy
Inadequate
amount of
gingiva
Recession
Evaluate prognosis of
planned orthodontic
movement
Impaired
local plaque
control
Local plaque
control
Unerupted/erupting teeth
(ectopic eruption)
Evaluate prognosis of
planned orthodontic
movement
Favorable
Monitor
No
Gingival
augmentation
Erupting teeth
Maintain physiologic
amount of gingiva
Save entrapped
gingiva
Consider type of impaction
Assess position of erupting cusp
Unfavorable
Consider
gingival
augmentation
(thickness)
with FGG
Submucosal
buccal
Extraction of
deciduous
tooth
APF
Infraosseous
At MGJ
Repositioned
flap + traction
to the center
of the ridge
Bipedicle
graft
Slightly
apical
to MGJ
Very
apical
to MGJ
APF
FGG
115
58
Orthodontic Approaches for Patients

with Periodontal Problems
Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, Tiziano Baccetti, Roberto Rotundo, Francesco Cairo, and Leonardo Muzzi
Adequate plaque control is mandatory in patients scheduled for

both orthodontic and periodontal therapy. Although some
orthodontic measures may help to simplify plaque removal, the
keystone for oral health is the maintenance of a proper regimen
of home plaque control.
A
The relationship between malpositioning of the teeth,

crowding in particular, and the development of periodontal
diseases is controversial. The determining factor for gingival
inflammation is more likely the amount of accumulated
local plaque than the malposition itself. When the amount
of bacterial plaque is considerably greater in regions of the
dentition showing severe crowding than the general
amount of plaque in the individual patient, orthodontic
correction of the dental disharmony can be beneficial for
more effective local oral hygiene.
Restorative dentistry in patients with insufficient tooth crown

height must be performed after procedures that allow for the
establishment of physiologic biologic width. Otherwise, the
periodontal tissues may develop increased probing depth and
limitations with respect to plaque control. When a procedure
for crown lengthening is scheduled, the amount of bone support must be assessed. If bone support is adequate, resective
surgery is indicated; if not, orthodontic extrusion of the tooth,
with or without fiberotomy, can be helpful to increase the
supragingival crown length of the tooth.
Some malocclusions result in chronic traumatic contact of

gingival tissues and teeth due to mismatching of overbite
and overjet dimensions. Periodontal damage can result
from the gingival trauma. Excessive overbite, which can be
observed in patients with angle Class II division 2 malocclusion, may lead to typical gingival lesions on the buccal
aspect of the lower incisors and/or on the palatal aspect of
the upper incisors. Elective therapy for decreasing overbite
is by tooth intrusion. Patients with excessive overjet angle
(Class II division 1) may experience gingival trauma on the
palatal aspect of the upper incisors as well. Orthodontic
therapy can create an adequate amount of both tipping and
intrusion of the lower incisors to stop damage.
116
Orthodontic movement of tooth extrusion with light forces

is indicated in patients with periodontal problems who are
scheduled for implant therapy. The aim of the orthodontic
approach is to reestablish bone support in the alveolar
region that will receive the implant. After orthodontic
extrusion the periodontally compromised tooth is
extracted, and implant therapy is performed.
The presence of a papilla between the maxillary incisors is

an important esthetic requirement of many patients. In
some, the papilla is either reduced or absent. Some orthodontic strategies may assist in creating an adequate interproximal space for the residual papilla. Both alignment
and shape of the teeth play a relevant role with regard to
this type of orthodontic approach. The first example
relates to the presence of diverging roots of the maxillary
incisors. In these patients, the aim is to restore the physiologic alignment of both crowns and roots. After orthodontic therapy, an asymmetrical profile of the incisal margin (due to uneven incisal wear) may become apparent
and require incisal restoration. A second clinical condition
is the presence of space above the interproximal contact of
maxillary incisors in association with abnormal tooth
shape. In these patients, the crowns of the incisors are
much wider at the incisal edge than in the cervical part.
The interproximal surfaces of the incisors may have to be
recontoured before orthodontic closure of the residual
embrasures. Similarly, when the papilla is reduced in
presence of a diastema, orthodontic therapy aimed at closing the interproximal space can be beneficial in improving
papillary esthetics.
Additional Readings
Ingervall B, Jacobsson U, Nyman S. A clinical study of the relationship
between crowding of teeth, plaque and gingival condition. J Clin
Kokich VG. Esthetics: the orthodontic-periodontic restorative connection. Semin Orthod 1996;2:21.
Poulton DR. Correction of extreme deep overbite with orthodontics and
orthognathic surgery. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop 1989;96:275.
ORTHODONTIC APPROACHES FOR A PATIENT WITH PERIODONTAL PROBLEMS
Assess:
Oral hygiene
Instruction and
motivation
Poor
Good
Improvement
of local oral
hygiene
Correction
of crowding
Correction of
tooth rotation
Crown
lengthening
Assess:
Amount of bone support
Adequate
Uprighting
Tooth
extrusion
Assess:
Amount of overbiteoverjet
Tooth
extrusion
With
fiberotomy
Gain of bone support

in periodontal patients
scheduled for implant
therapy
Elimination of
gingival trauma
due to malocclusion
Inadequate
Resective
therapy
Correction
of excessive
overbite
Correction
of excessive
overjet
Tooth
extrusion
Tipping and
intrusion of
the teeth
Without
fiberotomy
Improvement of
esthetics
Realignment of
gingival margin
Assess:
Sulcus depth
Physiologic
Pseudopocket
Tooth alignment
intrusion/extrusion
Gingivectomy
Realignment of migrated
teeth after treatment of
periodontitis
Restoration of adequate
interproximal space
for the papillae
Correction of
divergent roots
Realignment of
mucogingival line
Closure of
spaces/
alignment
With
interproximal
stripping
Tooth
extrusion
Without
interproximal
stripping
117
59
Prevention of Recession
Walter B. Hall
The concept of preventing recession by surgical means, termed

prophylactic gingival grafting, has been replaced almost completely
by the concept of treating predisposed sites, where minimal
attached gingiva is present for new attachment by means of
connective tissue grafting (CTG) or guided tissue regeneration
(GTR), should recession occur. The need for augmenting inadequate attached gingiva before recession has occurred can be
justified in a limited set of circumstances, although the legal
aspects of informed consent in these situations are still in a
state of flux in some American states.
A
If a patient has a site with inadequate attached gingiva (see

Chapter 53), and neither is recession activity occurring nor
has it occurred, only restorative and possibly orthodontic
plans need be considered in deciding whether to graft to
prevent recession. If recession has occurred or is actively
occurring, the treatment would be therapeutic rather than
preventive (and is discussed in Chapter 60).
In a site where inadequate attachment gingiva is noted and

a crown, a Class V restoration, or a rest-proximal plate-I
(RPI) style clasp for a removable partial denture is planned
involving that site, the use of a prophylactic free gingival
graft (FGG) or a CTG to prevent recession relating to tooth
preparation or clasp design must be considered. If the site is
one with esthetic concerns as well, the need to graft preemptively is greatest, because the position of the free margin of new gingivacreated by a therapeutic CTG GTRin
relation to crown margins cannot be predicted accurately
enough to assure that gold chamfers or shoulders will be
118
covered. The apical margins of metal Class V restorations

should be subgingival according to classic restorative concepts. If an RPI partial clasp is affected by gingival recession,
gingiva cannot be created by CTG or GTR without a commitment to making a new partial denture. A prophylactic
FGG can make the occurrence of such undesirable restorative outcomes much less likely.
C
When orthodontic treatment involving teeth with sites

with inadequate attached gingiva is planned, prophylactic grafting before proceeding with orthodontics is no
longer a mandatory consideration (see Chapter 56). This is
because root coverage with new attachment can be
achieved, should recession occur, utilizing CTG or GTR surgical procedures. However, a discussion of the complex
issues with the patient and/or parents in order to achieve
informed consent (see Chapter 139) before proceeding
with orthodontics can prevent misunderstandings should
recession occur during orthodontic treatment.
Careful sucular soft-tissue brushing remains the best
means of preventing recession.
Additional Readings
evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 279
288, 291300.
Patient with a site with INADEQUATE ATTACHED GINGIVA
Determine:
Has recession occurred or is active recession occurring?
Yes
No
See Chapter 53
and Chapter 60
Assess:
Will restorative or orthodontic
treatment involve site with
inadequate attached gingiva?
Yes
Class V metal restoration,

crown, or RPI abutment
planned at site
FGG or CTG
No
Orthodontic
therapy
planned
MONITOR unless
recession occurs
Discuss with
patient or
parent
OBTAIN INFORMED
CONSENT to treat
or to monitor
119
60
Recession Treatment: Root Coverage or Not?

Walter B. Hall
If a patient has a root or roots exposed by recession, esthetic and

restorative needs influence the need for grafting in an interrelated manner. If the band of attached gingiva is adequate, but
recession has occurred, surgery may be performed to cover
exposed roots if an esthetic need exists. If no esthetic need
exists, and no restoration affecting the gingival margin is
planned, maintenance care alone should suffice. If the band of
attached gingiva is inadequate in the dentists opinion, the
need to consider gingival augmentation is greater.
A
Decide on the adequacy of the existing band of attached

gingiva and assess the patients overall dental needs. An
adequate band of attached gingiva is one that is sufficient to
prevent initial or continued recession. The patients age,
other dental needs, oral hygiene status, caries activity, and
esthetic needs are some factors influencing a decision
regarding whether treatment is needed if the band of
attached gingiva is judged inadequate to prevent initial or
continued recession.
If the patient has an adequate band of attached gingiva,

and no cosmetic or esthetic need to attempt root coverage
exists, dental health should be maintainable with regular
oral hygiene efforts, prophylaxis, or root planing. If a
Class V restoration or crown is to be placed, the apical
margin of the restoration may be placed within the gingival crevice without strong likelihood of inducing recession
or placed supragingivally if root sensitivity, caries activity,
or other restorative requirements (eg, crown length) are
not involved. Maintenance care should suffice to preserve
dental health.
If root coverage is necessary to meet esthetic (or cosmetic)

goals, and the band of attached gingiva on the tooth or
teeth with recession is adequate, a coronally positioned
120
pedicle graft or flap (see Chapters 110 and 111) is one possible treatment; however, a connective tissue graft (CTG) or
guided tissue regeneration (GTR) should be considered (see
Chapter 109).
D
If an inadequate band of attached gingiva is present and

esthetic, cosmetic, or restorative goals indicate the need for
root coverage, a CTG is most appropriate, particularly if several teeth are involved. If an adequate donor site for such a
graft is not available (ie, the donor site in the rugae area is
insufficiently thick), GTR is the choice for augmentation
(see Chapter 109).
If the patient has inadequate attached gingiva to meet dental

needs without initiating recession or further recession, and no
cosmetic or esthetic concern exists, a free gingival graft (FGG)
without root coverage may be performed for stabilization.
Additional Readings
Allen EP, Miller PD. Coronal positioning of existing gingiva: short-term
results in the treatment of shallow marginal tissue recession. J Periodontol 1989;60:316.
1984. p. 61.
Langer B, Langer L. Subepithelial connective tissue graft technique for
root coverage. J Periodontol 1985;56:715.
Matter J. Free gingival grafts for the treatment of gingival recessiona
review of some techniques. J Clin Periodontol 1980;9:103.
evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 339.
Patient with RECESSION
Determine:
Adequacy of attached gingiva
Consider:
Esthetic needs
No esthetic
requirement
Esthetic
requirement
Esthetic requirement
for root coverage
Restorative
needs
Maintenance
care
No esthetic
requirement
FGG
Consider:
Restorative needs
No restorative
needs
Determine:
Adequacy of
donor site for
CTG
CORONALLY
POSITIONED
PEDICLE GRAFT
(FLAP)
Adequate
donor
No adequate
donor
CTG
Consider: GTR
121
61
Free Gingival Graft, Connective Tissue Graft,

or Guided Tissue Augmentation
Walter B. Hall
After deciding that a pure mucogingival problem requires

surgery to create a broader band of attached gingiva, the dentist
must select the technique most likely to achieve root coverage
to minimize future recession. Esthetics is a primary consideration. Connective tissue grafts (CTG) and guided tissue regeneration (GTR) are more likely to be successful in covering roots
and matching the appearance of adjacent gingiva than are free
gingival grafts (FGG). Connective tissue grafting is more successful than GTR in the authors experience; therefore, if root
coverage is a goal, the CTG is preferable to other graft procedures unless an adequately thick donor site for a CTG is not
available (see Chapter 109).
A
122
If no esthetic concern exists, as in most mandibular and

maxillary molar areas, a free gingival graft is one option. If
no existing recession requiring root coverage is present, a
free gingival graft is an acceptable choice and is the easiest
to perform.
Free gingival grafts for covering roots have long been
desired goals of those practicing pure mucogingival surgery.
The predictability of success with a FGG is not great,
although claims for improved success through root treatment either with citric acid or complicated suturing have
been made. The FGG usually is taken from the palate,
which may be of a markedly different color than the gingiva adjacent to the area to be grafted. If the donor gingiva
is such a poor color match that it would create a greater
esthetic problem if successful than that created by root
exposure, free gingival grafting for root coverage should
not be attempted.
If no esthetic problem exists but recession requiring root

coverage is present or if an esthetic problem is present, use
a CTG or GTR for root coverage and a better esthetic result.
Connective tissue grafts have a higher degree of predictability of success in the authors experience; therefore,
they are the first choice.
The optimal donor site for a CTG is in the anterior palatal

area beneath the rugae, where the submucosa is fatty (see
Chapter 109). If finger pressure suggests that little spongyfeeling submucosa is present, GTR as a means of augmentation and root coverage is the alternative choice.
If the area of recession is so greatmore than 6 to 8 mm
from the cementoenamel junction to the bony crestthat
excision of a donor specimen would extend close to the
anterior palatine artery, GTR is a safer approach.
Additional Readings
1984. p. 129.
evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 355,
365.
Patient with INADEQUATE ATTACHED GINGIVA
Consider:
Esthetics
No esthetic problem
No existing recession
requiring coverage
Esthetic problem
Existing recession
requiring coverage
FGG
Determine:
Adequacy of donor site
for CTG
Adequately thick
donor site available
CTG
No adequately thick
donor site available
GTR
123
C) OCCLUSAL TRAUMA
62 Primary Occlusal Trauma
Walter B. Hall
63 Secondary Occlusal Trauma
Walter B. Hall
64 Canine Disclusion (Cuspid Rise) versus Group Function
Walter B. Hall
65 Selective Grinding versus Splinting
Walter B. Hall
66 Selective Grinding versus Use of Night Guard
Walter B. Hall
67 Occlusal Trauma and Adult Orthodontics
Vicki Vlaskalic
68 Removable Partial Denture Considerations for the Periodontally Compromised
Patient
Eugene E. LaBarre
PART 8 Treatment Planning and Treatment: Occlusal Trauma
62
Primary Occlusal Trauma

Walter B. Hall
ing fishing boats, using a jackhammer, and driving a taxi with

bad springs have been implicated. Changing jobs may not be
an option open to the patient; however, a bite guard often
can be worn during work hours in such occupations.
Primary occlusal trauma occurs when a tooth with normal support is overloaded and as a result is wounded. The problem may
be localized or generalized in several teeth.
A
Localized, primary occlusal trauma most typically is related

to a high restoration, a common sequela of the placement
of a new restoration in an individual tooth that has been
extensively instrumented. An anesthetized patient whose
mouth has been opened wide for some time often is unable
to detect such an early contact. Selective grinding usually is
all that is required to correct the problem; however, severe
discrepancies may best be resolved by replacing the restoration.
Malaligned teeth also may be subjected to primary occlusal

trauma, especially when they are locked in facial or lingual
version. Selective grinding may resolve minor malalignments. Orthodontic movement is often the best treatment
choice. In severe crowding, however, selective extraction of
teeth may be a simple and satisfactory solution.
Generalized, primary occlusal trauma usually is of a different origin. Clenching and grinding habits including bruxism (night grinding) are the most common causes. Occlusal
adjustment or (occasionally) selective grinding of a high
trigger tooth may resolve some problems; however, the
psychologic component of clenching and grinding habits,
especially bruxism, may improve with counseling to control
the patients psychic disturbances. Because such problems
are difficult to resolve, a bite guard (night guard) often is
used to control the damage caused by grinding, especially
bruxism. The skill of the dentist in managing such problems, which often have complex psychologic overtones,
often is sorely tried.
124
Another less common etiology is occupational bruxism,

wherein certain occupations cause patients to grind their
teeth. Jobs that involve riding a tractor, hauling nets on rock-
Recreational bruxism is a term used to describe the extreme

gnashing of teeth that accompanies the use of some recreational drugs. The best solution to such problems is to discontinue the use of the drugs. Counseling may be helpful
in correcting such habits. Occasionally, a bite guard may be
helpful if the patient cannot stop using the drug.
Postorthodontic clenching may occur when a major

occlusal discrepancy occurs after orthodontic therapy. A socalled double bite may be created if the patient has a maximal occlusal position a half tooth or more forward of a centric relation occlusion. As the patient rocks between these
two positions, severe trauma usually occurs. If it is detected
before periodontitis is present, occlusal adjustment may be
somewhat helpful; however, the discrepancies often are too
great to be ground out. Further orthodontic treatment,
even orthognathic surgery, should be undertaken with
patient consent. A bite guard may be useful in controlling
damage; however, a lifetime of wearing such a device is
rarely a palatable alternative. Full-mouth reconstruction to
establish a stable, centric relation occlusion is an expensive
but reasonable alternative.
Additional Readings
Prichard JF. Advanced periodontal disease. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: WB
Saunders; 1992. p. 823.
1990. p. 388.
Patient with PRIMARY OCCLUSAL TRAUMA
Generalized
Localized
High
restoration
Replace
restoration
SELECTIVE
GRINDING
Clenching, grinding
habits (bruxism)
OCCLUSAL
ADJUSTMENT
ORTHODONTIC
MOVEMENT
Bite
guard
Malaligned
tooth
Occupational
bruxism
Change
job
Bite
guard
EXTRACTION
Recreational
bruxism
Stop drug
use
Postorthodontic
clenching
Bite
guard
Counseling
OCCLUSAL
ADJUSTMENT
FURTHER
ORTHODONTIC
TREATMENT
Bite
guard
FULL-MOUTH
RECONSTRUCTION
125
63
Secondary Occlusal Trauma

Walter B. Hall
Secondary occlusal trauma occurs when a tooth has loss of

attachment and bone support to the extent that wounding
occurs even with normal occlusal loading. The problem may be
localized or generalized in several teeth.
A
126
Localized secondary occlusal trauma has a better prognosis

than does generalized secondary occlusal trauma. If adjacent teeth have adequate support, selective grinding of the
tooth that has lost support may minimize function on the
tooth by placing most function on the teeth with good support. If good abutment teeth are available, the tooth that
has lost support may be splinted with fixed bridgework to
the abutments, minimizing heavy function on the weakened tooth. The more remaining teeth with sufficient support to act as abutments or otherwise assist the compromised tooth, the better the prognosis. If the compromised
tooth is amenable to guided tissue regeneration (GTR) (see
Chapters 79 and 80), it may be treated, obviating the need
for splinting; otherwise, it should be extracted and
replaced with a bridge or implant.
If no good adjacent abutment teeth remain, but the compromised tooth is amenable to GTR, that approach cannot
be employed; the tooth should be extracted or maintained
with full recognition that its prognosis is hopeless (see
Chapter 37).
If generalized secondary occlusal trauma is present, permanent splinting of all teeth with fixed bridgework may be
sufficient to stabilize the problem by tying all compromised
teeth together. This approach is an expensive one and
should not be undertaken if all teeth have extensive bone
loss. In such heavily involved generalized cases, temporary
splinting may permit maintenance of the teeth for shorter
periods. Another alternative is the placement of a bite
guard, especially if the patient grinds the teeth at night. If
most teeth have lost substantial support, GTR on large
numbers of teeth is not currently practical or predictable;
therefore, extraction is the only reasonable alternative.
Additional Readings
Febiger; 1990. p. 405.
Patient with SECONDARY OCCLUSAL TRAUMA
Localized
Good adjacent
abutment teeth
SELECTIVE
GRINDING
Splint to
those teeth
No good adjacent
abutment teeth
Permanent
splint
Generalized
Temporary
splint
Bite
guard
Extract
Hopeless,
but maintain
or extract
Consider:
Whether tooth is amenable to GTR
GTR candidate
Not a GTR candidate
GTR
Extract
127
64
Canine Disclusion (Cuspid Rise) versus Group Function

Walter B. Hall
After deciding that a patient may benefit from selective grinding

during treatment for periodontitis, the dentist must decide
whether establishing canine disclusion (cuspid rise) or group
function in lateral movements is best (Figure 64-1). Canine disclusion may provide a cuspid-protected occlusion in parafunctional lateral movements that may be beneficial if posterior
teeth have significant bone loss, considerable occlusal wear, or a
number of cracks, and if the patient clenches or grinds the teeth.
Canine disclusion is preferable to group function of weakened
posterior teeth, but if canine disclusion cannot be employed,
group function is used.
If both of the canines on one side have little or no bone loss,

the first condition for the use of canine disclusion is met. The
radiographs should show normal-sized maxillary and
mandibular canine roots that have little radiographic evidence of bone loss. Probing should confirm that little attachment has been lost. If the canines occlude in lateral movement toward the side in which these teeth are present, canine
rise is a logical objective of selective grinding. If sound maxillary and mandibular canines do not occlude in lateral movement, canine disclusion cannot be attained. If the posterior
teeth have little or no bone loss, group function is the objective. If the posterior teeth have moderate-to-severe bone loss
and the canines are essentially sound, however, either the
canines may be restored to create canine disclusion, or orthodontic positioning of the canines can be used to permit it.
If one or both canines on one side have moderate-to-severe

bone loss and guided tissue regeneration is not feasible,
canine disclusion should be discarded as an objective. If the
adjacent posterior teeth have little or no bone loss, group
function is the logical objective. If the adjacent posterior teeth
have moderate-to-severe bone loss, as do the canines, splinting to distribute the loading more evenly is necessary, especially if the teeth are very mobile. If mobility is minimal, selective grinding to smooth out the group function may suffice.
Additional Readings
Figure 64-1 Working side contacts in canine disclusion or group function situations.
128
DAmico A. The canine teeth: normal functional relation of the natural

teeth of man. Calif Dent Assoc J 1958;26:6.
Mosby; 1988. p. 986.
Ramfjord S, Ash MM. Occlusion. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1983.
p. 370.
1990. p. 392.
Periodontal patient with NEED FOR SELECTIVE GRINDING

Radiographs
Determine:
Teeth involved
have bone loss
Both canines on one side

have little or no bone loss
Canines occlude in
lateral movement
Canine disclusion
One or both canines on one side

have moderate-to-severe bone loss
Canines do not occlude

in lateral movement
Posterior teeth have

moderate-to-severe
bone loss
Restoration to establish
canine disclusion

little or no bone loss
Orthodontic movement
of canines to permit
canine disclusion

moderate-to-severe
bone loss
Posterior teeth
not very mobile
Posterior teeth
very mobile
Splint
Group function
129
65
Selective Grinding versus Splinting

Walter B. Hall
If a patient seeking periodontal treatment has loose teeth that

may benefit by minimizing further trauma to them, the dentist
must decide whether to use selective grinding alone, splinting,
or a combination of the two.
If most teeth are loose but have little or no bone loss, the
problem is one of generalized primary occlusal trauma and
may be managed with selective grinding; a night guard and
selective grinding may be required.
Loose teeth may be localized or generalized. A localized

problem offers more options than does a generalized one. A
localized problem may be one of primary or secondary
occlusal trauma. A generalized problem may be one mostly
of primary or secondary occlusal trauma.
Localized loose teeth may have lost little or no bone support but still be mobile. Selective grinding should eliminate
such problems of localized primary occlusal trauma.
If most teeth have moderate-to-severe bone loss, generalized secondary occlusal trauma is the diagnosis. The dentist should assess the possible use of GTR, where predictable, to change individual tooth prognosis. Where
practical, GTR should be employed with temporary or provisional splinting before permanent splinting is employed.
In some cases, if a smaller amount of support has been lost,
splinting may be a sufficient treatment with maintenance
of surgery. The age and financial means of the patient
influence the decision.
Localized loose teeth, however, may have lost a moderateto-severe amount of bone. If most other teeth are sound
(have little bone loss), selective grinding may reduce the
loading to the loose teeth enough to minimize trauma. If the
adjacent teeth are sound, and the loose tooth is moderately
involved, splinting may be used to stabilize it. If the loose
tooth has lost substantial support, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) may be considered. If GTR is a predictable procedure for the severely involved tooth, it should be used (see
Chapter 79). If GTR is not possible or acceptable to the
patient and the adjacent abutments are adequate, the compromised tooth should be extracted and replaced with a
bridge rather than jeopardizing sound abutment teeth to
maintain a tooth with a guarded-to-hopeless prognosis.
130
Additional Readings
Newman MG, Takei HH, Carranza FM Jr. Carranzas clinical periodontology. 9th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2002. p. 1012.
Nyman S, Lindhe J, Lundgren D. The role of occlusion for the stability
of fixed bridges in patients with reduced periodontal support. J Clin
Ramfjord S, Ash MM. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1983. p. 384.
Ringli HH. Splinting of teeth: an objective assessment. Helv Odontol
Acta 1971;15:129.
A periodontal patient with LOOSE TEETH
A Determine:
Extent of problem
Bone loss
Localized
Loose teeth have

little or no bone
loss (primary
occlusal trauma)
Grind
selectively
Generalized
Loose teeth have

moderate-to-severe
bone loss (secondary
occlusal trauma)
Most other
teeth are
sound
Assess:
Psychogenic factors
Adjacent
teeth are
sound
Grind
selectively
Loose tooth
moderately
involved
Splint
Most teeth have

little or no bone
loss (primary
occlusal trauma)
Loose tooth
severely
involved
Psychogenic
component
No psychogenic
component
Grind
selectively
and
night guard
Grind
selectively
Consider:
Whether tooth is amenable
to GTR (see Chapter 79)
GTR
possible
GTR not
possible
GTR
EXTRACT
and
BRIDGE
Most teeth have

moderate-to-severe
bone loss (secondary
occlusal trauma)
Consider:
Whether any severely
involved teeth are
amenable to GTR,
which would improve
the overall program
GTR
possible
GTR not
possible
Grind
selectively
Splint
(possibly selective
grinding, too)
131
66
Selective Grinding versus Use of Night Guard

Walter B. Hall
In treating a periodontal patient who clenches and grinds the

teeth and has loose or symptomatic teeth, the dentist must
decide whether selective grinding or night guard therapy is indicated. Selective grinding may smooth out the occlusion so that
trigger discrepancies are eliminated or may better distribute
forces so less trauma occurs. A night guard (Figure 66-1) may be
used to control trauma relating to bruxism (parafunctional
clenching or grinding at night). Occasionally a patient also may
be able to wear such a guard for periods during the day. If the
problems are of psychologic origin, selective grinding may be of
little help in stopping the clenching and grinding.
A
If the patient has an essentially satisfactory occlusion, but

still has loose or symptomatic teeth, only a night guard is
indicated. The guard does not prevent the patient from
clenching and grinding, but it does minimize trauma to the
teeth while it is worn. Such patients usually have a psychogenic need to clench and grind. Not all such patients
will wear a night guard. The dentist should explain to the
patient the need to wear one in bed and the tendency to
salivate more while wearing it before the patient decides to

have one fabricated. Some patients become so accustomed
to a night guard that they cannot sleep if they lose it or forget to bring it with them.
B
Some patients have an inadequate number of teeth or an

occlusion that cannot be treated by selective grinding. If a
restorative plan to provide a better, less traumatogenic
occlusion cannot be financed by the patient, a night guard
may be used to minimize the trauma.
In some cases in which the patient has loose or symptomatic teeth, and selective grinding is both indicated and
feasible, the patient may reject selective grinding. If so, a
night guard may be a helpful alternative. If the patient
agrees to selective grinding, and the dentist can determine
a psychogenic component to the etiology of the clenching
and grinding, both selective grinding and a night guard
should be used. If psychogenic factors are minimal or
absent, and the dentist can detect trigger tooth disharmony, selective grinding alone may be sufficient to control
the clenching and grinding, improve the firmness of teeth,
and minimize the symptoms.
Additional Readings
Figure 66-1 Paired maxillary and mandibular night guards.
132
Glickman I et al. When and to what extent do you adjust the occlusion
during periodontal therapy? J Periodontol 1970;41:536.
Muhlemann HR, Herzog H, Rateitschak KH. Qualitative evaluation of the
therapeutic effect of selective grinding. J Periodontol 1957;28:11.
Possellt V, Wolff IB. Treatment of bruxism by bite guards and bite plates.
Calif Dent Assoc J 1963;29:773.
Ramfjord S, Ash MM. Occlusion. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1983.
p. 365.
1989. p. 405.
A periodontal patient with LOOSE OR

SYMPTOMATIC TEETH WHO CLENCHES AND GRINDS
Determine:
Need for selective grinding
Selective grinding
not needed
Selective grinding
needed
Night
guard
Assess:
Feasibility of selective grinding
Not amenable to
selective grinding
Selective grinding
possible
Determine:
Acceptability of treatment
Night
guard
Selective grinding
unacceptable to patient
Selective grinding
acceptable to patient
Night
guard
Consider:
Psychogenic factors
Psychogenic factors
No psychogenic factors;
appears to be triggered
by occlusal disharmony
Grind selectively
and night guard
Grind
selectively
133
67
Occlusal Trauma and Adult Orthodontics

Vicki Vlaskalic
ized tooth malposition problem, or more usually a symptom

of tooth malposition related to a comprehensive malocclusion. Occlusal factors such as posterior interdigitation, overbite, and overjet should be assessed, as well as transverse
relations such as crossbites. Significant deviations from centric relation to centric occlusion are also important, as
occlusal trauma is often associated with mandibular shifts,
either as a predisposing factor or secondarily as an avoidance mechanism. If a comprehensive malocclusion exists, it
is standard of care to inform the patient that the ideal corrective treatment would likely include treatment of two full
arches. It is not uncommon for patients to refuse full treatment due to the esthetic objection to most fixed appliances,
and to opt for an approach limited to treating only the teeth
directly involved in traumatic occlusion. This may be an
acceptable compromise only if the patient has been fully
informed of the larger problem with the occlusion and
attempts are made, such as retention of the occlusion, to
prevent further relapse and/or physiologic tooth movement.
Orthodontic therapy can be an efficient way to treat and prevent occlusal traumatic lesions caused by tooth malposition.
Adults experiencing such trauma may present signs and symptoms including increased tooth mobility, localized worn dentitions, pain on mastication, temporomandibular joint pain, and
periodontal disease. Many of these conditions may be reversed
with orthodontic tooth movement, in patients without existing
inflammatory disease.
A
134
The diagnosis of occlusal trauma is not typically made based

on a single examination due to the necessarily progressive
nature of the injury. Once a diagnosis of primary or secondary occlusal trauma is made, the cause of the trauma
must be assessed. Orthodontic correction of tooth malposition will not necessarily address trauma due to ill-designed
partial dentures, poor restorations, or habits. In cases where
tooth malposition is the prime cause of the trauma, we need
to determine the teeth involved and whether moving these
teeth is a reasonable course of action. Orthodontic tooth
movement may augment periodontal therapy in many situations including functional anterior crossbite causing jiggling trauma, tipped teeth with periodontal pocketing, and
the extrusion or intrusion of teeth with compromised bone
morphology. In these situations, pocket depth and bone
morphology may be reduced and normalized if root surfaces
remain dbrided and free of plaque. Additional factors such
as the morphology and prognosis of the teeth involved, and
the direction and magnitude of movement required will
influence the decision of whether or not orthodontic tooth
movement is indicated.
Treatment decisions involving orthodontic mechanotherapy
will largely depend on the assessment of the entire periodontal health status of the patient. The three broad categories that
patients will fall into will be those with no periodontal concerns, those with previous periodontal disease but no inflammatory conditions present, and those with active lesions. The
patients displaying total periodontal health are candidates for
orthodontic evaluation, whereas those with either previous
periodontal conditions or active lesions should be treated
and/or assigned a periodontal maintenance regimen. Once
the periodontal health of the patient becomes stable, and all
inflammatory conditions are controlled, the patient can then
be assessed for orthodontic treatment. If, however, the periodontal health of the patient is not well controlled, and
inflammatory disease does not subside, orthodontic tooth
movement is contraindicated due to the increased risk of further, rapid periodontal deterioration.
Before any attempt at tooth movement is made, a diagnosis
of the entire occlusion is necessary. This is to ensure that the
patient does not undergo treatment aimed at only a symptom of a broader problem. Occlusal trauma may be a local-
Patients experiencing occlusal trauma who have been

assessed to this point require orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning with the correction of the traumatic tooth
position as only one occlusal goal of many. The process of
orthodontic treatment planning involves collection and evaluation of records including full mouth radiographs, lateral
cephalometric film, intra- and extraoral photographs, and
study cases. Those patients who have had compromised
periodontal health would also require a periodontal evaluation indicating the absence of active disease. A problem list
including extraoral esthetic evaluation, as well as intraoral
soft-tissue, skeletal, and dental evaluation is compiled,
headed by the patients chief complaint. A treatment plan is
devised that best addresses as many of these problems as possible. It is prudent to consider the correction of the whole
malocclusion at this stage, rather than focus specifically on
the trauma, as if an ideal occlusion situation is created for the
patient, this will correct the trauma most of the time. The
treatment plan should make provision for the type of longterm retention that would best suit the patients needs concerning the prevention of a recurrence of the trauma and
periodontal needs.
Fixed appliance therapy is the traditional modality used in

the treatment of malocclusions requiring three-dimensional
correction. These appliances provide maximum control
over root position. The disadvantage is that they are often
unesthetic and may obstruct periodontal maintenance and
routine oral hygiene procedures. Recently, an alternative
appliance system known as the Invisalign System of tooth
movement has become popular among esthetically minded
adult patients due to the removable nature of these sequentially worn, clear, overlay appliances. This system may be
Adult Patient with OCCLUSAL TRAUMA AND ORTHODONTICS
Assess: Will orthodontic tooth movement correct or reduce occlusal trauma?
Yes
No
Assess: Periodontal health
All teeth healthy
Controlled periodontal disease
Active periodontal lesions
Periodontal treatment and

set maintenance regimen
Successful
Unsuccessful
Assess: Does the patient have a comprehensive malocclusion?

No
Yes
Comprehensive orthodontic
diagnosis and treatment plan
Assess: Has the occlusal trauma been eliminated?
Yes
Orthodontic mechanotherapy
inappropriate: seek alternative care
Orthodontic mechanotherapy aimed at correction

of all functional and esthetic concerns
No
Limited orthodontic mechanotherapy

aimed at elimination of interferences
and restoration of osseous defects
Deband, retain occlusion, and reinforce

periodontal maintenance therapy
specifically indicated for adult patients with periodontal

compromise, as routine oral hygiene procedure are not
obstructed. During treatment, patients should be screened
for signs of periodontal disease and root resorption at intervals related to the risk profile of the patient.
F
Limited orthodontic mechanotherapy assumes that either

the traumatic lesion is the only evidence of a malocclusion or
that patients have been informed of and rejected treatment
aimed at comprehensive treatment of their malocclusion.
They still require an adequate record base for diagnosis; however, the treatment plan is restricted in its goal to elimination
of the occlusal trauma. Typically, the treatment will take less
time to accomplish and will require only partial application
of fixed appliances or the use of removable appliances.
Before orthodontic appliances are removed, the clinician

should ensure that occlusal interferences are eliminated.
This assessment should be made both in static occlusion
and in functional excursions. Investigations that may aid
this decision may include visual inspection using articulation paper, shoulder of occlusion, mobility assessment, radiographs, feedback from the patient, and, lately, the use of
computer-aided occlusal evaluation systems. Study models
will also be beneficial in assessing arch coordination and
posterior cusp relations. Specific attention should be paid to

low lingual cusp position of maxillary molars.
H
Once traumatic occlusion has been eliminated via tooth

movement (perhaps supplemented with minor occlusal
equilibration), and other treatment goals are obtained, the
patient may be debanded and the retention phase started.
Retention should be custom-designed for each patient taking into account the nature of the initial malocclusion and
the periodontal status of the patient. Bonded retainers may
not be indicated if they prevent compliance with oral
hygiene routine. Settling of the occlusion is common, even
during the retention phase. This may necessitate minor
equilibration to perfect the static and functional occlusion.
Additional Readings
Boyd RL, Vlaskalic V. Three dimensional diagnosis and orthodontic
treatment of complex malocclusions with the Invisalign appliance.
Semin Orthod 2001;7:232.
Melsen B. Tissue reaction following application of extrusive and intrusive forces to teeth in adult monkeys. Am J Orthod 1986;89:469.
Ramfjord SP, Ash MM Jr. Significance of occlusion in the etiology and
treatment of early, moderate and advanced periodontitis. J Periodontol 1981;52:511.
135
68
Removable Partial Denture Considerations

for the Periodontally Compromised Patient
Eugene E. LaBarre
sion residual ridges because of the potential for increased

movement of the restoration and consequent damage to the
abutment teeth. The presence of six or fewer anterior teeth
as the only support in the arch for an RPD is a common
occurrence. In this situation, splinting all the teeth offers
excellent support for the RPD. Highly mobile teeth have little value as RPD abutments and should be extracted. There
must be at least two strategic nonmobile abutments or abutment groups to support an RPD; otherwise, a complete denture is indicated.
Although the fixed partial denture (FPD) is the restoration of

choice for restoring missing teeth, the removable partial denture
(RPD) becomes necessary when the edentulous span is too long
or when there is no end tooth (distal extension).
A
The need for tooth replacement is first assessed according to

the patients esthetic or functional disability. Not all partially
edentulous patients require restoration; when all molars are
missing, a well-integrated second premolar occlusion is satisfactory for many people.
When an RPD is fabricated for a periodontally compromised

patient, the prosthesis should fit well, be rigid, and result in
minimal coverage of marginal gingiva by the metallic portion. Open major connector designs placed at least 3 mm
apically to marginal tissue in the mandible (6 mm in the
maxilla) are preferred over plated designs, which cover the
lingual surfaces of multiple teeth.
Edentulous areas that are capable of supporting occlusal loads

are covered fully, particularly in distal extension situations.
The altered cast impression technique provides soft tissue
contact simultaneously with seating the rests, minimizing
rocking of the restoration in function. A variety of mechanical clasping systems have been described to reduce functional
leverage-type forces on distal extension RPD abutments (Figure 68-1). If precision attachments are desirable esthetically,
resilient designs that permit tissue-ward movement and rotation are necessary for periodontally compromised abutments.
Splinting is required to reinforce mobile RPD abutments and

is strongly recommended for free-standing premolar pier
abutments. Double abutting also may be necessary for nonmobile abutments adjacent to severely resorbed distal exten-
The optimal occlusion for the reduced support RPD

involves uniform posterior centric contacts without significant laterally displacing forces. Natural tooth guidance, if it
exists and is nondestructive, should be maintained. Prosthetic tooth materials should have wear properties compatible with those of opposing dentition to preserve occlusal
contact patterns: acrylic opposite acrylic; metal opposite
enamel, metal, or porcelain fused to metal; and porcelain
opposite porcelain denture teeth.
The success of any restoration in a compromised oral scheme

depends on effective home care and regular recall. Removable
restorations should be kept scrupulously clean and should be
removed from the mouth for a minimum of 8 hours each day.
Additional Readings
Carranza FA. Glickmans clinical periodontology. 7th ed. Philadelphia:
Gomes BC, Renner RP. Periodontal considerations of the removable partial overdenture. Dent Clin North Am 1990;34:653.
Renner RP, Boucher IJ. Removable partial dentures. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1987. p. 53.
Figure 68-1 Illustration of a stress-releasing clasp. The minor connector provides bracing action and is designed to cover the soft tissue minimally. The major connector is
placed apically to the free gingival margin. F = circumferential clasp placed at or gingival to the tooth height of contour; P = distal plane; R = mesial rest.
136
Patient who is PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS WITH REDUCED PERIODONTAL SUPPORT
Determine:
Do missing teeth create esthetic or functional impairment?
Yes
No
Assess:
Number of teeth to be replaced
Maintenance
Few
Multiple
Consider:
FPD
RPD
Assess:
Location of edentulous space
Bordering tooth
Isolated pier abutment
Tooth-supported RPD
Consider:
FPD to splint pier, then RPD
No distal tooth
Distal extension RPD
Assess:
Abutment mobility
Nonmobile
No reinforcement
Mobile
Consider:
Splinting
Develop optimal occlusion
137
D) GINGIVAL ENLARGEMENT
69 Treatment of Gingival Enlargements
70 Circumscribed Gingival Enlargements
Gonzalo Hernndez Vallejo
PART 8 Treatment Planning and Treatment: Gingival Enlargement
69
Treatment of Gingival Enlargements

Treatment of gingival enlargement depends on the nature of the

enlargementinflammatory, fibrotic, neoplasticand the etiologic factors involved (see Chapter 29). Treatment of inflammatory or fibrotic enlargements generally involves the elimination
of local factors, followed by surgical treatment of any residual
enlargement. Suspected neoplasms require a biopsy specimen to
establish or confirm a diagnosis.
A
138
During the treatment of a gingival abscess or an acute periodontal abscess, the dentist gives a local anesthetic, establishes drainage, and dbrides the lesion. In the case of a gingival abscess, blade incision is used to establish drainage.
Drainage for the periodontal abscess is achieved with an
external incision or by curette via the pocket. Care should
be taken not to overinstrument the root surface, because
this decreases the prospects for reattachment. After
drainage is established, irrigate the lesion with warm saline
solution or water. For a periodontal abscess, antibiotics
should be prescribed if the patient is experiencing malaise
or lymphadenopathy or is febrile. Analgesics may be prescribed for pain. After treatment of an acute abscess, the
patient should return the next day. The dentist should evaluate the area for further treatment (eg, surgery) after the
acute symptoms have resolved.
Treatment of chronic inflammatory gingival enlargements
requires a heavy emphasis on proper daily plaque control,
elimination of other local irritants (ie, calculus, poor dental
restorations, caries, open contacts with food impaction,
mouth breathing, orthodontic braces, and poorly fitted
removable appliances), and identification of potential systemic factors. Systemic factors may include vitamin deficiency, leukemia, and hormonal changes occurring during
pregnancy or puberty or in association with oral contraceptives. Some enlargements may resolve after the etiologic
factors are eliminated; however, many are secondarily
fibrotic and require surgical treatment. Evaluate the need
for surgery (gingivectomy or flap procedure) after sufficient
time has been allowed for response to the initial therapy.

Consult the patients physician if a vitamin C deficiency or
leukemia is suspected. Check bleeding and clotting times
before treatment for leukemic gingival enlargement.
C
Treatment of a drug-induced gingival enlargement should

include a consultation with a physician regarding alternative drug therapy. Drug-induced enlargement may regress
or completely resolve after the medication is discontinued. In most cases, however, an alternative drug therapy
is not practical. Treatment then involves meticulous
plaque control and removal of local irritants. If the
enlargement interferes with esthetics or mastication or
presents a significant plaque-control problem, gingivectomy or flap surgery may be performed. Recurrence is a
problem, but it can be minimized with proper attention to
daily plaque control and regular professional cleanings.
Some clinicians use positive-pressure appliances after
surgery to help discourage recurrence.
Hereditary gingival fibromatosis is treated surgically (gingivectomy or flap procedure) if it interferes with esthetics
or mastication or becomes a significant plaque-control
problem. The condition may recur despite meticulous oral
hygiene, and it often regresses after tooth extraction.
Suspected neoplasms require a biopsy specimen to establish

or confirm a diagnosis. Treatment depends on the nature of
the neoplasm, and referral to a specialist is often indicated.
Additional Readings
Lundergan WP. Drug-induced gingival enlargementsdilantin hyperplasia and beyond. J Calif Dent Assoc 1989;17:48.
Newman MG, Takei HH, Carranza FA Jr. Carranzas clinical periodontology. 9th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2001. p. 279.
Patient with GINGIVAL ENLARGEMENT
Fibrotic enlargement
(pink color, firm)
Inflammatory enlargement
(red color, edema, swelling)
Periodontal or
gingival abscess
Local
anesthetic
Establish drainage
and gently dbride
Recall patient
for next day
Evaluate for further

therapy when acute
symptoms resolve
Chronic inflammatory
gingival enlargement
Drug-induced gingival
enlargement
Emphasize
plaque control
Physician
consultation
Eliminate irritants
Eliminate
local irritants
Scaling and
root planing
Consult physician if
leukemia or vitamin C
deficiency suspected
Hereditary gingival
fibromatosis
GINGIVECTOMY
or FLAP SURGERY
Neoplasm
BIOPSY
Refer for
treatment
GINGIVECTOMY
or FLAP SURGERY
Positive-pressure
appliance
GINGIVECTOMY
or FLAP SURGERY
139
PART 8 Treatment Planning and Treatment: Gingival Enlargement
70
Circumscribed Gingival Enlargements

Gonzalo Hernndez Vallejo
Circumscribed gingival enlargements (CGEs) include exophitic

lesions localized and limited to the gingiva that is adjacent to a
tooth or group of teeth. CGEs adopt a variety of nonspecific clinical shapes that may be of assistance to the clinician in establishing a diagnosis. Nevertheless, in most instances, a biopsy
specimen is required to establish a definitive diagnosis.
The diagnostic sequence for CGE should include a carefully
detailed medical and dental history. After a CGE has been detected,
the inflammatory appearance of the lesion must be assessed.
A
Inflamed lesions are characterized by redness, edema, and

bleeding. They may appear at the attached or marginal papillary gingiva, and the inflammatory origin of the lesion does
not necessarily mean that it appears inflamed. Radiographic
investigation of the morphology of the lesion and probing
the sulcus are important steps in making the diagnosis.
Inflamed CGEs located at the attached gingiva may adopt

a pedunculated or polypoid shape. Dental pain and negative vitality with the presence of a polypoid lesion near the
border between attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa suggest a parulis (a draining chronic alveolar abscess), which
can be easily confirmed by studying the radiograph. If the
lesion appears in the socket corresponding to a removed
tooth, the dentist should suspect an epulis granulomatosa.
The presence of partial or complete dentures accompanied
by exophitic hyperplastic tissue at the periphery of the
prosthesis provides enough information to diagnose an
epulis fissurata.
CGEs that display a nodular dome shape with a smooth,
shiny surface should be checked for acute infections. Gingival abscess is usually limited to the marginal or interdental
gingiva and is clinically characterized by acute pain, redness, and fluctuance with no loss of attachment. Periodontal abscesses, however, show features of periodontal disease
and radiographic evidence of bone loss.
140
Inflamed CGEs involving marginal or papillar gingiva are

common lesions. Radiography is important in evaluating the
involvement of the underlying bone. Red polypoid or nodular masses that bleed easily and are accompanied by bone
radiolucency may indicate a central giant cell granuloma.
If no bone involvement is observed, the dentist should
review the following conditions. Chronic inflammatory
enlargements sometimes appear as painful, red, localized papillar or marginal masses and are associated with local factors
such as bacterial plaque and calculus. Pyogenic granuloma is
an inflammatory hyperplasia that clinically consists of a red or
purple, very soft, friable, nodular or pedunculated mass, frequently with an eroded or ulcerated surface that bleeds under
the slightest trauma. Pregnancy tumor occurs in 3 to 5% of
pregnancies; it appears as a spherical or flattened mass located
in marginal and interdental papilla. The surface of a pregnancy tumor is dusky red or magenta, and it displays numer-
ous small red spots. Peripheral giant cell granuloma arises as

a nodular or polypoid mass at the gingiva and edentulous
alveolar mucosa; its consistency is usually firm, with a smooth
or granular surface, and it may become large. Gingival
abscesses also may appear circumscribed to the marginal or
papillar gingiva. Some rarities such as hemangiomas and
Kaposis sarcoma in cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome may resemble lesions belonging to this group.
D
Noninflamed CGEs include conditions that exhibit clinical

characteristics in which inflammation is absent. An evaluation of the color of the lesion is extremely important in this
group of entities. White color is a typical feature in papillomas and verruca vulgaris, which usually show a pedunculated shape with a cauliflowerlike appearance. Brown CGEs
are rare and are associated with hyperparathyroidism. They
appear as multiple tumoral lesions accompanied by bone
involvement; clinical history, radiography, and biochemical
data support the correct diagnosis. Blue lesions include
hemangioma, hematoma, eruption cysts, and, less frequently, the blue variety of peripheral giant cell granuloma.
Careful examination can provide information about a history of trauma (hematoma) or reveal the presence of
unerupted teeth (eruption cyst). Red or pink CGEs comprise
the majority of gingival tumors and tumorlike conditions.
Clinical characteristics are of little help in differentiating
these entities; therefore, biopsy is the method of choice to
confirm the diagnosis. Clinical diagnosis, however, must be
focused on the texture and consistency of the CGE.
Hard lesions with bonelike consistency must be assessed

using radiography. Exostoses are common developmental
lesions that can occur in alveolar bone and give a radiopaque
image. Radiolucencies accompanied by CGEs are associated
with central exophitic lesions.
Soft-to-firm (not hard) CGEs may display normal bone or

bone changes under radiographic examination. Radiopaque
images can be observed in peripheral fibromas with calcification or in peripheral ossifying fibromas. The presence of
radiopaque foci within the tumors, together with the feature of separated teeth in this area, may help in the diagnosis. Radiolucencies appear frequently in cases of central
giant cell granuloma, malignant central tumors with
peripheral invasion, and cysts. Gingival cysts arising from
remnants of odontogenic epithelium may cause erosion of
the alveolar bone, giving a circumscript radiolucency.
Soft-to-firm masses that concur with normal bone include

most of the neoplasias. The dentist must evaluate these
conditions while paying careful attention to the age of the
lesion, rate of growth, external aspect of the lesion (surface), and location. Special care should be taken not to confuse normal anatomic variations such as retromolar papilla
Patient with CIRCUMSCRIBED GINGIVAL ENLARGEMENT
Assess inflammatory appearance of the lesion
Inflamed lesion
Assess location
Attached gingiva
Assess:
Shape of the lesion
Radiography
Attachment level
Assess: Color of the lesion
Marginal or papillary gingiva
Assess:
Clinical history
Radiography
Bone
radiolucency
White
Brown
Red or pink
Papilloma
Verruca
vulgaris
Hyperparathyroidism
Assess: Consistency
Chronic
inflammatory
enlargement
Gingival
abscess
Periodontal
abscess
Parulis
Peripheral
giant cell
granuloma
Gingival
abscess
Kaposis
sarcoma
Epulis
fissurata
Assess: Radiographically
Bone normal
Bone disturbance
Bone disturbance
Pregnancy
tumor
Hemangioma
Epulis
granulomatosa
E Hard
Soft to firm
Pyogenic
granuloma
Nodular
or smooth
surface
Blue
Hemangioma
Hematoma
Eruption cyst
Peripheral giant cell
granuloma (blue variety)
Normal
radiographic
image
Central giant
cell granuloma
Pedunculated
or polypoid
Noninflamed lesion
Assess:
Time of evolution
Borders
Surface
Rate of growth
Location
Slow growth, defined borders
Radiopaque
Radiolucent
Peripheral fibroma
with calcification
Peripheral ossifying
fibroma
Central giant cell

granuloma
Odontogenic tumors
Malignant tumors
Rapid growth, nondefined borders
Congenital
Specific location
Benign tumors or cyst
Congenital
epulis
Retrocuspid papilla
Retromolar papilla
Gingival cyst
Fibroma
Lipoma
Myxoma or myxofibroma
Nevus
Odontogenic tumors
Gingival fibromatosis
and retrocuspid papilla. Congenital epulis appears at birth

as a large polypoid swelling and is easily recognizable.
Benign tumors and gingival cysts show slow growth and
well-defined borders and include a great number of lesions
arising from the gingiva. Gingival fibromatosis may appear
as a CGE located in the palatal posterior areas.
CGEs with a rapid rate of growth and nondefined borders should be suspected for malignancies, whether the
lesions are growing from gingival tissues, central bone, or
metastases from other locations.
Malignant tumors
Radiopaque
Radiolucent
Exostosis
Central exophitic
lesions
Spindle cell carcinoma

Lymphoma
Sarcoma
Kaposis sarcoma
Metastasis
Additional Readings
Cawson RA, Binnie WH, Speight PM, et al. Lucas pathology of tumors of
the oral tissues. 5th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 1998. p. 199.
Lindhe J. Clinical periodontology and implant dentistry. 3rd ed. Copenhagen: Munksgaard; 1998. p. 356.
Wood NK, Goaz PW. Differential diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial
lesions. 5th ed. St. Louis: Mosby: 1997. p. 130.
141
E) MISCELLANEOUS
71 Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases and Other Related Conditions
Mauricio Ronderos and Randal W. Rowland
72 Indications for Molar Tooth Resection: Hemisection versus Root Amputation
Jordi Cambra and Borja Zabelegui
73 Determination of Whether a Resected Molar Will Be a Useful Abutment for a
Fixed Prosthesis
Brian J. Kenyon and Casimir Leknius
74 Sequencing Endodontics and Root Resection
PART 8 Treatment Planning and Treatment: Miscellaneous
71
Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases

and Other Related Conditions
Mauricio Ronderos and Randal W. Rowland
foul odor. The lesions are frequently covered by plaque and

a white-yellow or grayish slough due to fibrin. Systemic
manifestations may or may not be present and include lymphadenopathy, fever, and malaise. NUG is localized to the
soft tissues and does not involve loss of alveolar bone, and
the lesions may lead to minimal or no loss of attachment.
The distribution of the lesions varies; however, anterior
teeth are frequently affected. The lesions appear to be selflimiting in extent and duration and generally resolve rapidly
to mechanical dbridement. NUG lesions have been associated with the presence of different bacteria including spirochetes, Fusobacterium spp, and Prevotella intermedia. Under
electron microscopy, NUG lesions have four distinct zones: a
bacterial zone (outer layer), a neutrophil-rich zone, a
necrotic zone, and a spirochetal-infiltrated zone.
The incidence of NUG in industrialized countries has
declined during the past decades, and it is now rare. However, the disease is still common in some developing
nations. In industrialized countries, NUG mostly affects
young adults of low socioeconomic status. Meanwhile, in
developing nations, the disease mainly affects children. Historically, persons under psychological stress are more prone
to be affected, for example, those in the military and students. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, poor
oral hygiene, malnutrition, and immunosuppression (eg,
neutropenia, leukemia, and HIV infection). Risk factors
other than poor oral hygiene, however, may not be obvious.
Necrotizing periodontal diseases (NPDs) exhibit acute lesions

characterized by painful interproximal ulceration and necrosis.
In the severely malnourished or immunocompromised, for
example, patients positive for human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), NPDs may extend into the basal bone and mucosa (ie,
necrotizing stomatitis) or extend farther to the perioral tissues
perforating to the external face (ie, cancrum oris/noma). Cancrum oris is often preceded by systemic viral infections (eg,
measles). The presence of interproximal necrosis distinguishes
NPD from other painful conditions, for example, herpetic gingivostomatitis (see Chapter 27), mucocutaneous disorders (see
Chapter 34), and aphthous ulcers.
A
142
Due to their intraoral pain, patients with an NPD generally

seek treatment. The pain is usually localized to a specific
area. There are two forms of NPD: necrotizing ulcerative
gingivitis (NUG) and necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis
(NUP). Both NUG and NUP are characterized by pain, interproximal gingival necrosis, and bleeding that occurs spontaneously or upon minimal manipulation. However, they
differ in the extent of periodontal tissue destruction. NUG
exhibits necrosis that is generally limited to the soft tissues;
whereas NUP features gingival necrosis with a loss of alveolar bone and minimal pocketing. NUG and NUP are also
distinct from an epidemiologic perspective. In industrialized
countries, NUG is a disease of young adults, whereas, in
developing countries, it affects children. NUP usually presents in a severely immunocompromised patient (eg, with
HIV) in developed countries, but may present in the
nonHIV-infected population especially in developing
countries. It has been suggested that NUP is the progression
of NUG in a susceptible patient. NPDs appear to result from
a bacterial infection in a susceptible host. A possible influence of herpes viruses in the etiology has also been speculated. It may be difficult for clinicians to distinguish
between NUP and NUG when there is preexisting bone loss
caused by other forms of periodontitis. If the presentation
of the lesions is such that the diagnosis is not clear, a general diagnosis of NPD is recommended. In this case the clinicians judgment dictates the course of treatment based on
the medical history and degree of systemic involvement.
NUG (formerly known as ANUG, Vincents gingivitis, or
trench mouth) lesions are characterized by necrosis and
ulceration of one or more interdental areas resulting in
punched-out papillae. NUG lesions often extend to the
facial and lingual marginal gingiva and are accompanied by
NUP (formerly know as HIV-associated periodontitis) is

characterized by pain and necrosis extending past the gingiva into the periodontal attachment, resulting in rapid loss
of alveolar bone. The lesions usually involve the interdental periodontium. Sequestration of bone is common.
NUP generally affects HIV-infected persons, especially
those who are not receiving antiretroviral treatment. NUP
is associated with severe immunosuppression (eg, CD4+
T-lymphocyte counts below 200 cells/mL). HIV-infected
individuals with NUP are at higher risk for dying during the
2 years following the onset of NUP. Lesions consistent with
a clinical diagnosis of NUP may also occur among individuals with severe malnutrition and other diseases leading to
immunosuppression.
Given the strong association with HIV infection, HIV
tests may be recommended for patients with either NUG or
NUP. Referral for close medical follow-up may be indicated
for HIV-infected patients with NUP as it may be an indicator of immune system deterioration.
Patient with PERIODONTAL PAIN
Assess:
Soft tissue status
Necrosis of interdental papilla(e)

Bleeding upon gentle manipulation
Lesion(s) within the periodontium
Necrosis extending past

the periodontium
NPD
NS
Necrosis and destruction of

the periodontium, basal cone,
buccal mucosa, penetrating
to external cheek and/or lip
Cancrum oris
(noma)
No ulceration or necrosis of
the interdental papillae or
marginal gingiva
(See Chapters 27
and 34)
Assess:
Extent of the lesion
Necrosis localized to gingiva

No alveolar bone loss
NUG
Necrosis of gingiva and loss

of alveolar bone
Minimal pocketing
NUP
Necrotizing stomatitis (NS) is characterized by necrosis

extending past the periodontium into the surrounding oral
tissues, soft and hard. Whether NS is a separate disease
entity or a further progression of NUP is not known. It is
possible that NS may be an intermediate step between NUP
and cancrum oris.
Cancrum oris (noma) is an aggressive gangrenelike lesion

characterized by necrosis and destruction of the periodontium that penetrates to the external cheek and lips. The disease begins as an NUG-like lesion and rapidly progresses to
involve the alveolar process, basal bone, and face. The
lesions, which result in permanent disfiguration and often
in death, predominantly occur in malnourished children.
Most reports of cancrum oris come from subSaharan
Africa where the disease mainly affects children between
the ages of 2 and 16 (mean age, 4 to 5 years). Lesions have
also been reported to occur among neonates and other
immunocompromised groups (eg, patients with leukemia
and diabetes). Cancrum oris is often preceded by systemic

manifestations of herpes virus infection or measles.
Whether these infections trigger the disease or are coincidental due to the depleted immune system of the host is
unknown. The large areas of necrosis and tissue destruction
are frequently colonized by Fusobacterium necrophorum,
staphylococci, and anaerobic streptococci.
Additional Readings
Enwonwu CO, Falkler WA Jr, Idigbe EO, Savage KO. Noma (cancrum
oris): questions and answers. Oral Dis 1999;5:144.
Listgarten MA. Electron microscopic observations on the bacterial flora of
acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. J Periodontol 1965;36:328.
Novak MJ. Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis. Ann Periodontol 1999;
4:74.
Rowland RW. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. Ann Periodontol 1999;4:65.
Consensus report: necrotizing periodontal diseases. Ann Periodontol 1999;
4:78.
143
72
Indications for Molar Tooth Resection:

Hemisection versus Root Amputation
Root resection is a technique for maintaining a portion of a diseased or injured molar by removal of one or more of its roots.
Resection may be achieved by hemisection, in which the entire
tooth is cut in half and one part is removed, or by root amputation, in which only a root or two are amputated from the
remainder of the tooth (Figure 72-1). These surgical approaches
may be useful in many situations. The selection of hemisection
or root amputation depends on the status of the individual molar
and its relationships to other teeth. Guided tissue regeneration
(GTR) may be a viable option in many cases (see Chapter 79).
A
If a molar has fused roots, neither hemisection nor root

amputation is possible. If a Class II furcation is present (see
Chapters 46 and 100), GTR may be attempted. If a Class III
furcation is present (see Chapter 101), extraction or maintenance with a hopeless prognosis is an option.
A maxillary molar with advanced involvement of a proximal furcation and separated roots in which root proximity
is a problem should be treated by root amputation to facilitate access for dbridement by the dentist. If root proximity is not a complicating factor, a Class II (definite) furcation
involvement proximally may be treated by GTR or
mucogingival-osseous surgery or maintained with frequent
planing (see Chapter 100). The patient can establish plaque
control with an interproximal brush. The same is true if the
facial furcation has a Class II involvement; however, if the
furcations join one another (Class III), root amputation is
indicated, although GTR may be attempted in ideal cases.
A mandibular molar with advanced furcation involvement

and separated roots that is an existing bridge abutment is a
candidate for root amputation and retention of the existing
bridge; however, a similarly involved mandibular molar
that is not an existing bridge abutment should be treated by
hemisection and crowning. In either case, if a Class II furcation is involved, GTR may be attempted. If a Class III furcation is present, hemisection or root amputation (if the
tooth is part of an existing bridge) should be performed.
If no endodontic involvement is evident, periodontal considerations assume paramount importance. Determine the
roots to be amputated. If doubts exist, periodontal surgery
with vital resection of the root selected during surgery
should be performed before endodontic treatment. If the
root to be removed is clearly indicated, endodontics should
be done before amputation, but, if doubt exists, surgery and
vital root amputation allow for clinical decisions to be
made. If the molar is mandibular and is not an abutment
for an existing fixed bridge, root amputation may permit
retention of that bridge. If it is not an existing abutment,
hemisection and then crowning are indicated.
If necrotic pulp condition exists, initiate endodontic treatment before periodontal treatment. The differential diagnosis becomes difficult if the bone loss that is causing a deep
pocket formation may be related to failure of the root canal
therapy because of technical errors (leaking obturations).
Perforations or vertical root fracture with no separation of
fragments may cause bone loss defects that mask primary
periodontal conditions.
If the molar being considered has a cracked or perforated

root, part of it may be salvaged by resection. If the tooth is
nonsymptomatic, either maintenance with a guarded prognosis or a surgical approach may be considered. If the tooth
is symptomatic and not of strategic (long-term) value, it
may be extracted; however, if the tooth has strategic value,
it should be treated. If the tooth is mandibular and is not an
abutment for an existing bridge, tooth amputation should
be considered if root canal therapy can be performed on the
root that will be retained. If it is not an abutment for an
existing bridge, hemisection is better. If the molar is a maxillary one and a single facial root is cracked or perforated,
root amputation is better if root canal therapy can be performed on remaining roots. If both facial roots are cracked
or perforated, hemisection with removal of both facial roots
may be a reasonable choice.
When the remaining bone support for a future implant

would be jeopardized by retention of a badly involved
Figure 72-1 Illustrations of root amputation (removal of one root) and

hemisection (removal of half a tooth).
144
molar, especially in the case of a younger patient, extraction of the molar would improve the likelihood of longterm success utilizing an implant alternative.
Patient with DISEASED or DAMAGED MOLAR:

HEMISECTION VERSUS ROOT AMPUTATION
Consider:
Status of the individual molar and relationship to other teeth
Whether roots are fused
EXTRACT
IMPLANT
Fused roots
Separated roots
Maintenance
with hopeless
prognosis
GTR (Class II
furcation)
Determine:
Pockets on one root or in furcation
Advanced furcation
involvement(s)
Maxillary
molar
Proximal
furcation
GTR (Class II and

some Class III
furcations)
HEMISECTION
MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS
SURGERY
Determine:
Whether an endodontic involvement is evident
Mandibular
molar
Not a bridge
abutment
Facial
furcation only
Deep pocket
on one root
Bridge
abutment
No endodontic
involvement
Maintenance
ROOT
AMPUTATION
Determine:
Whether treatment or
retreatment is possible
EXTRACT IMPLANT
Maintenance
Consider:
Root amputation option
Endodontic involvement
(necrotic pulp or failing
endodontics)
Possible
G Not
possible
No root
proximity
Class II
furcation
Root
proximity
Determine:
Whether a question persists
as to which root to remove
Class III
furcation
No question
ROOT
AMPUTATION
ENDODONTICS
ROOT
AMPUTATION
MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS
SURGERY
Question
ENDODONTICS
One remaining root
not treatable
Periodontic evaluation
of remaining pocket
PERIODONTAL
SURGERY
with ROOT
AMPUTATION
of most
involved root
EXTRACT
IMPLANT
Additional Readings
Amen CR. Hemisection and root amputation. Periodontics 1966;4:197.
Basaraba N. Root amputation and tooth hemisection. Dent Clin North
Am 1969;13:121.
Hiatt WH, Amen CR. Periodontal pocket elimination by combined therapy. Dent Clin North Am 1964;8:133.
Schluger S, Yuondelis KA, Page RC. Periodontal diseases. 2nd ed.
Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1990. p. 548.
Perforation
Determine:
Whether tooth is symptomatic
Not symptomatic
Symptomatic
Consider:
Maxillary or mandibular molar
ENDODONTICS
ROOT
AMPUTATION
Cracked
root
Maintenance
Maxillary
AMPUTATE
INVOLVED
ROOT(S)
Mandibular
EXTRACT
IMPLANT
Consider:
Abutment status
Abutment
Not abutment
ROOT
AMPUTATION
HEMISECTION
145
73
Determining Whether a Resected Molar Will

Be a Useful Abutment for a Fixed Prosthesis
Brian J. Kenyon and Casimir Leknius
To determine whether a resected molar will be a useful abutment for a fixed prosthesis, it is necessary to evaluate the prognosis of the residual root by considering a number of general
and tooth-specific factors.
A
A good medical condition is favorable to the prognosis of

the residual root. Significant health factors, such as diabetes, the use of anticonvulsant medications, a suppressed
immune system, and smoking, are unfavorable to the
prognosis.
The genetic susceptibility of a patient to periodontal disease
should be considered. A positive Periodontal Disease Susceptability Test (Medical Science Systems) indicates that the
patient will progress more rapidly toward severe periodontal disease. This test result is unfavorable to the prognosis of
a resected molar.
The patient must be capable of proper oral hygiene and follow through with scheduled professional maintenance.
After treatment, the site must have a periodontal and
restorative form that facilitates adequate plaque control.
The periodontal attachment needs to be assessed through

oral examination, radiographs, and probing of the entire
root circumference. Little loss of attachment (LOA) is favorable to the prognosis of the prosthetic abutment. A greater
degree of attachment loss or a vertical component to the
destruction, is unfavorable to the prognosis.
146
The mobility of the tooth or the residual root is an important factor. Increased mobility is a sign of decreased periodontal support, and indicates that the root is unsuitable as
an abutment.
The characteristics of the residual root must be considered.
The length and buccolingual dimension of the root needs to
be adequate. The root should not be severely tapered or
inclined. Any root concavity is accessible to the patient and
the treatment team to allow proper hygiene and the fabrication of correct periodontal and restorative form. If the root
characteristics are inadequate, the prognosis is unfavorable.
The crown-to-root ratio is a comparison of the length of
tooth occlusal to the alveolar crest of bone and the length
of the root covered by bone. Under normal circumstances,
the minimum ratio for an abutment is 1:1. A ratio greater
than 1:1, unless the opposing force is diminished, has an
unfavorable prognosis.
A favorable prognosis for a resected molar depends on an

adequate surgical result. Subgingival residual furcal lips or
ledges cannot be present after resection. If osseous surgery
is indicated, it must result in a positive periodontal architecture that facilitates adequate plaque control.
The construction of the foundation restoration affects the

prognosis. One of the major causes of resected molar failure
is root fracture. The presence of a post, particularly in
mandibular teeth, is strongly associated with root fracture.
A post should not be used unless absolutely necessary. If
required, post size should be minimized. The need for a post
is unfavorable to the prognosis of the abutment.
A favorable prognosis for a residual root depends on the

fabrication of an adequate final prosthesis. The margins of
the restoration should be well adapted, supragingival, and
cleansable by the patient. If the margins extend subgingivally, the biologic space should not be violated. The proximal surfaces should emerge from the gingiva with a flat
contour establishing interproximal contact. Buccal and lingual contours should sustain their flat profiles from the gingiva to the cusp tips.
The type of prosthesis selected after root resection affects

the prognosis of the abutment. Restorations with zero or
one pontic supported by the residual root have a favorable
prognosis. A residual root that supports more than one
pontic has an unfavorable prognosis due to an increase in
stress and a greater chance of root fracture.
A favorable prognosis is possible for a resected molar if the

occlusal forces can be satisfactorily managed and parafunctional habits are absent. The prosthesis should have vertical
stops, an occlusal table narrowed buccolingually, and no
deflective contacts. Occlusion should be continually
checked and adjusted when necessary.
Routine endodontic treatment of the residual root is favorable to the prognosis. Endodontic complications such as calcification, recalcitrant infection, or severe root curvature
are unfavorable to the prognosis of the abutment.
Endodontic access and canal preparation should be as conservative as possible to maintain tooth structure. Overenlargement of the access opening and canals is unfavorable to the prognosis of the resected molar because thin
walls are susceptible to root fracture.
Patient with a DAMAGED OR DISEASED MOLAR

Determine:
Factors involved
Prognosis
Medical condition
of the patient
Good
Favorable
Significant risk factors present
Unfavorable
Genetic susceptibility to
periodontal disease
PST negative
Favorable
PST positive
Unfavorable
Oral hygiene and

professional maintenance
Adequate
Favorable
Inadequate
Unfavorable
Periodontal attachment
of the root
Little LOA
Favorable
Much LOA
Unfavorable
Tooth/root mobility
Normal
Favorable
Increased
Unfavorable
Adequate
Favorable
Inadequate
Unfavorable
Adequate
Favorable
Inadequate
Unfavorable
Adequate
Favorable
Inadequate
Unfavorable
Does not require a post
Favorable
Requires a post
Unfavorable
Adequate
Favorable
Inadequate
Unfavorable
Root characteristics
Crown-to-root ratio
Surgical result
Foundation restoration for

the fixed prosthesis
Length
Buccolingual dimension
Lack of taper
Manageable concavity
Lack of inclination
Prosthetic result
Number of pontics supported

by the residual root
None or one
Favorable
More than one
Unfavorable
Occlusal trauma or
parafunctional habits
Absent
Favorable
Present
Unfavorable
Endodontic treatment
of the residual root
Routine
Favorable
Complex
Unfavorable
Endodontic access and

canal preparations
Conservative
Favorable
Overenlarged
Unfavorable
Additional Readings
Davarpanah M, Martinez H, Tecucianu J, et al. To conserve or implant:
which choice of therapy? [review] Int J Periodontics Restorative
Dent 2000;20:412.
Langer B. Root resections revisited. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent
1996;16:200.
Schmitt SM, Brown FH. The hemisected mandibular molar: a strategic
abutment. J Prosthet Dent 1987;58:140.
Shillingburg HT, Hobo S, Whitsett LD. Fundamentals of fixed prosthodontics. Chicago: Quintessence; 1997. p. 8990.
Svardstrom G, Weenstrom JL. Periodontal treatment decisions for
molars: an analysis of influencing factors and long-term outcome.
147
74
Sequencing Endodontics and Root Resection

If a patient has a tooth requiring combined endodontic and

periodontal treatment (root resection), the sequencing of the
treatment may require considerable thought. Whenever possible, endodontic treatment should be done before root resection so that difficulty in obtaining adequate anesthesia for
comfortable root canal therapy does not complicate endodontics after vital root resection. Vital root resection rarely results
in serious postoperative pain. However, as necrosis of the
exposed pulp proceeds, the ability to obtain adequate anesthesia for comfortable root canal therapy is complicated by
increasing acidity, which interferes with the efficacy of the
local anesthetic; nevertheless, excellent reasons to accept and
manage this problem do exist.
A
If the tooth is nonvital, the problem may be endodontic

only (even if probing suggests that deep pockets are present), especially if the problem is severe and acute. If this
appears to be the case, endodontics should be done first,
because no need for root resection may arise later if pockets can no longer be probed.
If root resection is needed, the first consideration is

whether the roots to be resected are fused (Figure 74-1). If
so, the tooth must be extracted or maintained with a hopeless prognosis.
If the roots to be resected are not fused, the dentist must

decide whether root canal therapy can be performed on all
roots or not. If an untreatable root is to be retained, the
tooth should be extracted or maintained with a hopeless
prognosis if it is free of symptoms.
When the prognosis for success after root resection would

continue to be poor because of significant bone loss, or one
root is significantly cracked, or root canal therapy would be
very difficult, extraction of the tooth and replacement with
an implant would be the best long-term option.
If endodontics can be done on all roots or all roots to be

retained, the next consideration relates to the certainty
regarding the roots to be resected. If doubt exists, periodontal surgery with vital resection of the root selected
during surgery should be performed before endodontic
treatment. If the roots to be resected are clearly determinable before surgery, endodontic treatment should precede nonvital root resection.
Additional Readings
Basaraba N. Root amputation and tooth hemisection. Dent Clin North
Am 1969;13:121.
Grant DA, Stern IB, Listgarten MA. Periodontics. 6th ed. St. Louis: Mosby;
1988. p. 916.
Hiatt WH, Amen CR. Periodontal pocket elimination by combined therapy. Dent Clin North Am 1964;8:133.
Febiger; 1990. p. 549.
Simons HS, Glick DH, Frank AL. The relationship of endodontic
periodontic lesions. J Periodontol 1972;43:202.
Figure 74-1 Roots that are fused at their apices are not candidates for
root amputation.
148
Patient with MOLAR REQUIRING RESECTION
Assess:
Vitality status
Nonvital tooth
Vital tooth
Determine:
Nature of problem
Consider:
Nature of roots
Endodontic
problem only
Roots
fused
Roots
not fused
Endodontic therapy
EXTRACT
or maintain
with hopeless
prognosis
Determine at recall:
Persistence of pockets
Pockets
gone
Consider:
Possibility of endodontics
Endodontics
not possible
Pockets
persist
Endodontics
possible
Consider:
Nature of root(s)
to be resected
No further
treatment
needed
Untreatable root
to be retained
EXTRACT
or maintain
with hopeless
prognosis
Treatable root
retained
Assess:
Adequacy of remaining bone support
Inadequate
Adequate
EXTRACT
IMPLANT
Decide the root(s)

to be resected
Doubt exists
No doubt exists
PERIODONTAL
SURGERY with
vital root
resection
Endodontics
Endodontics
Nonvital root
resection with
PERIODONTAL
SURGERY
149
PART 9
INITIAL THERAPY EVALUATION
75 Surgical Therapy versus Maintenance
Timothy F. Geraci
76 Evaluation of Furcation Status of Molars before Surgery
Walter B. Hall
77 "Through-and-Through" Furcation Involvement
Walter B. Hall
78 Periodontal Reasons to Extract a Tooth
Walter B. Hall
75
Surgical Therapy versus Maintenance

Timothy F. Geraci
The goal of periodontal therapy is to develop an environment

that the patient and the dentist can maintain in a stable status
with ease. The possibilities of attaining this goal are determining
factors in evaluating a case for surgery. If initial therapy (ie, root
planing and plaque control) has attained the goal of an easily
manageable case, maintenance planning and monitoring to
determine continued stability may be all that is required. If a
stable state cannot be attained or maintained with ease, surgical
alteration may be useful in achieving this goal. The decision is
made at the initial therapy evaluation, which should take place
several weeks after completion of the initial treatment.
A
If the patients general health is good, surgery may be considered. If health is seriously compromised (eg, poorly controlled diabetes, high diastolic blood pressure), surgery may
be contraindicated and the patient should be maintained as
well as possible with frequent recall visits for instrumentation and oral hygiene.
Plaque control by the patient is a key determining factor in

deciding whether surgical therapy has merit. If the patients
plaque control on visible, accessible areas of the teeth is not
good, mucogingival-osseous surgery is as likely to compromise the case as to help it. Initial therapy should be
repeated. If the patients plaque control is good (or overriding restorative demands are present), mucogingivalosseous surgery may be proposed.
150
Bleeding or suppuration on probing is an indication that

pocket areas inaccessible to plaque-control measures at
home continue to exhibit active disease. If bleeding or sup-
puration does not occur on probing, recall maintenance

may be an adequate means of stabilizing the case. Restorative needs, however, may be indications for surgery despite
this stability. If plaque control on the visible, accessible parts
of teeth is good, but bleeding or suppuration occurs on
probing, consider surgery.
D
Surgery is indicated if it may make areas more accessible for

plaque control and root planing without compromising
support of potentially maintainable teeth or creating unacceptable esthetic situations owing to root exposure. If additional support can be gained by regenerative means, the
dentist should vigorously encourage the patient to consider
the surgical alternative. If these objectives cannot be
obtained surgically, recall maintenance is the approach of
choice. If they can be obtained, propose the surgical alternative to the patient for acceptance or rejection.
Additional Readings
Lindhe J, Nyman S. The effect of plaque control and surgical pocket
elimination on the establishment and maintenance of periodontal
health: a longitudinal study of periodontal therapy in cases of
advanced periodontal disease. J Clin Periodontol 1985;2:67.
Febiger; 1990. p. 461.
Patient with RESIDUAL POCKET DEPTHS AT TIME OF INITIAL THERAPY EVALUATION
General health makes

surgery undesirable
MAINTENANCE
Patients plaque control

on accessible tooth
surfaces is adequate
Patients plaque control

on accessible tooth
surfaces is unsatisfactory
Probe
Repeat initial therapy
Bleeding or suppuration
on probing
Surgery would not

improve access for
plaque control or
planing or would
compromise support
or esthetics unduly
General health does not

contraindicate surgery
No bleeding or suppuration
on probing
Surgery may add

support or improve
access for plaque
control without
compromising
support or
esthetics unduly
Restorative needs
make surgery
desirable to
facilitate plaque
control or add
support
MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE MAY
BE A SATISFACTORY
APPROACH
MAINTENANCE
PRESENT SURGERY
ALTERNATIVE
151
76
Evaluation of Furcation Status of Molars before Surgery

Walter B. Hall
If initial therapy evaluation is performed several weeks or more

after root planing and any other aspects of initial treatment, the
status of furcation involvements of molar teeth becomes an
important consideration in deciding whether surgery will be
beneficial to the patient. If furcations are readily accessible for
plaque removal and root planing, maintenance by regular root
planing several times a year is a reasonable option for controlling the progression of inflammatory periodontal disease. If the
furcations are not accessible for plaque removal and root planing, however, surgery may make them accessible, and thus
improve the prognosis for the tooth. An individual molar should
be treated on the basis of the worst furcation involvement present (Figure 76-1).
A
The type of furcation involvement must be assessed in

deciding on treatment options. If the furcations are not
involved, maintenance by root planing alone usually is a
good option. The status of adjacent teeth and pocket depths
on the individual molar may make surgery a desirable
option in some cases even if furcations are not involved.
Class I (incipient) and Class II (definite) involvements (see
Chapters 99 and 100) require considerable decision making. Class III (through and through) involvements are
discussed in Chapter 101. Mandibular molars have two furcations that must be evaluated in deciding on further therapy at the time of initial therapy evaluation, whereas maxillary molars have three.
If the worst furcation involvement is incipient (Class I),

maintenance with regular root planing several times a year
may suffice. If the roots are fused, a Class I furcation may

be all that is present in the apex of the tooth; therefore,
pocket depth and type of osseous defect become critical factors. If pocket depth is slight, the tooth may be maintained;
however, if it is extensive, guided tissue regeneration (GTR)
may be possible, with the exception of regenerating the lost
attachment. Most defects associated with fused roots have
three osseous walls, making them good candidates for GTR.
Should the roots be tortuous and the defect not accessible
to surgical instrumentation, extract the tooth or maintain it
with a hopeless prognosis.
C
If the molar has a Class II (definite) furcation involvement,

accessfor plaque removal and root planingis a most
important consideration in deciding on the possible value of
surgery. Because maxillary molars have proximal furcations, access is a greater problem than it is in the mandibular arch. If access is good, maintenance with regular root
planing several times a year may be sufficient. The status of
adjacent teeth, however, may make including molars with
Class II furcations in surgery a desirable option even if they
are accessible for maintenance. If access is not good, making adequate plaque removal and root planing difficult or
impossible, loss of attachment (LOA) and type of osseous
defect become the chief factors in deciding on treatment. If
the defect is smaller than 3 mm, mucogingival-osseous
surgery with an apically positioned flap approach should
make the area accessible for instrumentation and plaque
removal. If the defect is 3 mm or larger, a three-walled
osseous defect usually is present on facial or lingual furcations, whereas proximal defects may be two walled or three
walled. All are good candidates for GTR. If only one root is
severely involved, root amputation or hemisection may be
a better option (see Chapter 72).
Class III, through-and-through furcations are amenable

to GTR now; however, the procedure is not likely to be successful because of the difficulty of removing all calculus and
contaminated dentin due to the anatomy of the roots and
furcations involved.
Additional Readings
Figure 76-1 A distal furcation involvement on the first molar with

apparent second-molar root proximity.
152
Carranza FA Jr, Newman AG. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 610.
Hemp SE, Nyman S, Lindhe, J. Treatment of multi-rooted teeth: results
after 5 years. J Clin Periodontol 1975;2:126.
Patient with a MOLAR TOOTH WITH FURCATION INVOLVEMENT AT INITIAL THERAPY EVALUATION
No furcation
involvement
MAINTAIN
Determine:
Most severe furcation
involvement present
Class I (incipient
involvement)
Determine:
Whether roots
are fused
Not fused
Class II (definite
involvement)
Class III (through

and through
involvement)
Determine:
Access for root planing
and plaque removal
Fused roots
Good access
Determine:
Extent of LOA
MAINTAIN
Slight
See Chapter 101
Poor access
Determine:
Whether defect is
3 mm or deeper
horizontally
Extensive
3 mm
< 3 mm
Determine:
Whether tooth is
a GTR candidate
MAINTAIN
Good
candidate
MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS SURGERY
GTR
ROOT AMPUTATION
or HEMISECTION
Poor
candidate
GTR
EXTRACT
MAINTAIN
153
77
Through-and-Through Furcation Involvement

Walter B. Hall
Class III or through-and-through furcation involvements are

described with other types of furcation involvements. Class III
involvements require the dentist to give considerable thought in
preparing a treatment plan. The prognosis for maintaining these
teeth often is poor; therefore, a definitive approach to therapy is
preferred. Extraction of the tooth may be the best approach if adequate abutments for a replacement are available (Figure 77-1).
A
If no abutments are available for a fixed bridge to replace

the Class III involved tooth, retaining the tooth may be a
valid approach. If potential abutments are available, their
periodontal status and restoration determine the options
open to the dentist.
If no abutments are available, the strategic value of the

furcation-involved tooth to the overall treatment plan
becomes the most important consideration. If the involved
tooth is not important to the treatment plan, it may be either
extracted or maintained with a hopeless prognosis. If the
involved tooth is essential to the treatment plan, the treatment possibilities discussed in note D apply. A single tooth
implant should be considered if an adequate bone exists.
If potential abutment teeth to support a replacement for the

Class III involved tooth are available, the periodontal status
of these teeth becomes the next important concern. If the
potential abutment teeth are healthy, extract the badly
involved tooth and place a fixed bridge replacement. If the
potential abutment teeth have early or moderate periodontal involvement, notably loss of attachement (LOA), consider the value of the Class III involved tooth. If keeping the
tooth would not add appreciably to the long-term prognosis of the case, extract the tooth, treat the abutment teeth
periodontally, and place a replacement fixed bridge. If the
Class III involved tooth may add to the long-term prognosis for the case, treatment options include guided tissue
regeneration (GTR)an approach that has become more
successful in recent yearsor endodontics with root amputation or hemisection (see Chapter 72).
If the Class III furcation-involved tooth is to be saved

(through GTR) or partially saved, the next major decision
concerns the possibility of performing endodontics and
root resection. If endodontics cannot be performed
(eg, because of root canal closure or root tortuosity) or
the roots cannot be resected (eg, because of root fusion),
the tooth should be extracted or maintained by root planing with a hopeless prognosis. The treatment options for
mandibular and maxillary molars are different, and both
are expensive.
If endodontics can be performed on both roots of the

mandibular molars, and the roots can be resected, the two
separated portions may be retained and crowned. If the
roots are close together and orthodontic separation of the
hemisected roots is not feasible, or if only one can be
treated endodontically, then only one root should be fully
treated endodontically; the other root should be
extracted. If the root to be salvaged can be joined to a satisfactory abutment, a fixed bridge can be used to replace
the extracted part of the molar. If the root to be salvaged
is adjacent to an abutment and a bridge is not needed, it
should be treated endodontically, the tooth hemisected,
the other removed, and a crown placed on the salvaged
half tooth. If possible, splinting the adjacent tooth to the
half tooth and placing a cantilevered bridge may improve
the overall case prognosis.
If endodontics can be performed on two of the roots of the

maxillary molars that are to be retained and a badly
involved third root can be resected, perform root amputation after endodontic therapy. The remaining portion of
the tooth should be crowned in a manner to facilitate
plaque removal. If endodontics cannot be performed on
the roots to be retained, or if the roots are fused to the one
to be amputated, extract the tooth or retain it with a
hopeless prognosis. If all three furcations are of the Class
III type, extraction or maintenance with a hopeless prognosis is also an option.
Additional Readings
Figure 77-1 A through-and-through (Class III) furcation involvement

with good adjacent abutments. The first molar should be considered for
extraction.
154
Becker W et al. New attachment after treatment with root isolation procedures: report of treated Class III and Class II furcations and vertical osseous defects. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1985;5:9.
Genco RI, Goldman HM, Cohen DW. Contemporary periodontics. St.
Pontoviero R et al. Guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of furcation defects in mandibular molars: a clinical study of degree III
involvements. J Clin Periodontol 1989;16:170.
Febiger; 1989. p. 549.
Patient with a molar with a THROUGH AND THROUGH FURCATION INVOLVEMENT
Determine:
Availability of potential
abutments to support bridge
No abutments available
Consider:
Strategic value
of molar
Assess:
Periodontal status of
potential abutments
Severe LOA
Support for
implant available
Yes
No
Abutments available
Tooth not
important
Early-to-moderate
LOA
Tooth
essential
Consider:
Strategic value of
furcation-involved molar
EXTRACT
MAINTENANCE
Adds to
treatability of case
IMPLANT
EXTRACT
GTR
Only one root

can be treated
endodontically
EXTRACT furcationinvolved molar
Possibilities of endodontics
and root resection
Mandibular molar
Endodontics
Hemisection
Does not add to

treatability of case
Treat furcationinvolved molar
MAINTENANCE
Treat abutments
and PLACE BRIDGE
Either endodontics
or root resection
cannot be done
Root proximity status
Endodontics
Root resection
Maxillary molar
Either endodontics
or root resection
cannot be done
MAINTENANCE
Options
Close
together
EXTRACT
Endodontics
Hemisection
CROWN
tooth parts
All furcations are

involved through
and through
CROWN
EXTRACT
Roots
apart
Healthy
Treatable root away

from abutment
Treatable root
near abutment
Endodontics
Hemisection
EXTRACT
other root
Place
FIXED BRIDGE
Endodontics
Hemisection
EXTRACT
other root
CROWN
remaining part or
include in cantilever
MAINTENANCE
155
78
Periodontal Reasons to Extract a Tooth

Walter B. Hall
If a patient with a complex dental problem has a badly periodontally involved toothdefined as a tooth with 50% or more
loss of attachment (LOA) a decision must be made about the
consequences of extracting it. Making an assessment of the value
of the individual tooth to the overall treatment plan is the first
step in deciding whether to extract or attempt to retain the tooth.
A
If the tooth has no crucial importance to the overall treatment

plan, it should be extracted rather than maintained because it
may compromise the success of the overall restorative plan.
If the tooth is crucially important to the overall treatment

plan, the role of the tooth in that plan must be clearly determined. Extraction may be the best option if the tooth is not
a vital abutment. If the particular tooth may add to the likelihood of success of the treatment plan, its retention does
not compromise other important teeth, and a strategic
retreat (should it fail) is planned, surgical treatment may be
a valid approach. Maintenance with a poor-to-hopeless
prognosis may be considered if retention of the tooth does
not jeopardize the overall plan or if the chances for retaining the tooth for a significant portion of the patients
remaining life seem good.
156
If the tooth is a crucial abutment, the chances of treating it

periodontally with reasonable likelihood of retaining it for
a significant period should be assessed. If the prognosis does
not appear good, the possibility of replacing the tooth with
an implant should be considered. If this cannot be done
because of the anatomy of the area or because the patient
is unable or unwilling to consider an implant, the tooth
should be extracted, and a removable prosthetic replacement plan devised.
If the tooth can be treated periodontally with a reasonable

chance of maintaining it for a significant time, a decision
should be made on the need for splinting before surgery. If
needed, temporary or provisional splinting should be performed before surgery.
If splinting is not needed, the possibility of successful regeneration of LOA should be considered. If guided tissue regeneration (GTR) can be performed predictably (see Chapter
79), it should be done, and its success evaluated after 6
months. If the tooth is not amenable to GTR, the tooth has
a guarded prognosis and may be treated by other surgical
means; the success of the procedure should be evaluated 2
to 6 months later. If treatment is successful in improving
the prognosis of the tooth, restoration may be instituted at
this time. If the tooths prognosis does not merit its inclusion in the plan at reevaluation, it should be extracted and
an alternative plan instituted.
Additional Readings
Hall WB. Removal of third molars: a periodontal viewpoint. In: McDonald RE et al, editors. Current therapy in dentistry. St. Louis: Mosby;
1980. p. 225.
Laskin DM. Evaluation of the third molar problems. J Am Dent Assoc
1971;82:824.
Febiger; 1989. p. 346.
Sorrin S, Burman LR. A study of cases not amenable to periodontal
therapy. J Am Dent Assoc 1944;31:204.
Patient with a COMPLEX DENTAL PROBLEM AND A BADLY PERIODONTALLY INVOLVED TOOTH
Assess:
Value of individual tooth to overall treatment plan
Tooth has no crucial

importance to
treatment plan
EXTRACT
Tooth has crucial

importance to
treatment plan
Determine:
How the tooth is to be used in the restorative plan
Whether it is a crucial abutment
Not crucial
abutment
EXTRACT
TREAT WITH
GUARDED
PROGNOSIS AND
PLAN STRATEGIC
RETREAT
Crucial
abutment
Assess:
Whether tooth can be treated periodontally
with a reasonable chance of success
MAINTENANCE
Cannot
Assess:
Whether it can be replaced
with an implant
Assess:
Whether splinting is needed
Yes
Can
Cannot
EXTRACT
Place
implant
EXTRACT
Plan
removable
option
Can
Splint
and treat
No
Plan
periodontal
treatment
Assess:
Whether regeneration is possible
Yes
GTR
No
Treat and reevaluate

status of tooth as
an abutment at
2 to 6 months
Reevaluate at
6 months
Restore
or
EXTRACT
157
PART 10
GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION
79 Guided Tissue Regeneration versus Mucogingival-Osseous Surgery

Walter B. Hall
80 European Approach to Guided Tissue Regeneration: Case Selection
Reiner Mengel and Lavin Flores-de-Jacoby
81 Guided Tissue Regeneration versus Osseous Fill
Steven A. Tsurudome
82 Selection of Sites for Placing an Atrisorb Membrane for Guided Tissue
Regeneration
Benjamin J. Mandel
83 New Technique for Preparing and Placing an Atrisorb Membrane for Guided
Tissue Regeneration
Benjamin J. Mandel
84 European Approach to Guided Tissue Regeneration: Membrane Selection
Lavin Flores-de-Jacoby and Reiner Mengel
85 Guided Tissue Regeneration for Treatment of Vertical Osseous Defects
Burton E. Becker and William Becker
86 Guided Tissue Regeneration or Alternatives for Treating Furcation Involvements
Alberto Sicillia and Jon Zabelegui
87 Guided Tissue Regeneration in Two-Walled Osseous Defects
88 Guided Tissue Regeneration in Osseous Dehiscences
89 Guided Tissue Regeneration Strategy to Maximize Esthetics: Selection of the
Surgical Approach and the Type of Membrane
Pierpaolo Cortellini, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, and Maurizio Tonetti
79
Guided Tissue Regeneration versus

Mucogingival-Osseous Surgery
Walter B. Hall
Conceptually, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is always

preferable to mucogingival-osseous surgery, because successful
GTR adds to existing support of the tooth, whereas mucogingival-osseous surgery usually requires the sacrifice of additional
supporting tissue to eliminate pockets and create a more easily
maintainable architecture around the tooth. The first decision,
therefore, involves the assessment of the tooth as a candidate
for GTR.
A
GTR may be attempted whenever significant loss of attachment (LOA) has occurred on a tooth; however, extremely
periodontally involved teeth or those with additional problems(eg, untreatable endodontic problems, unrestorable
crowns, deep vertical root cracks) may have to be extracted.
Horizontal bone loss cannot be corrected by GTR on a predictable basis today. Nonstrategic teeth do not merit GTR in
many cases, especially if less complicated or less expensive
alternatives are available.
If many or most of the patients remaining teeth have
extensive LOA, extraction or maintenance with a hopeless
prognosis may be the necessary choice.
If GTR is a feasible approach, the severity of the problem

must be considered. Whereas more severe problems merit
GTR, minimal problems (eg, teeth with an LOA of 5 mm
or less) may be treated quite satisfactorily with pocketelimination or mucogingival-osseous surgery.
In the anterior segments of the mouth, even teeth with less

than 5 mm of LOA may merit GTR rather than mucogingival-osseous surgery to improve the esthetic result; therefore
esthetic requirements should be considered to determine
whether the patients esthetic demands would be satisfied
better by employing GTR (Figures 79-1 through 79-7).
Figure 79-3 Surgical exposure of the defect with deepest readings of

11 mm from cementoenamel junction to bone.
Figure 79-1 Preoperative view of an incisor with severe periodontal

destruction.
Figure 79-2 Radiographic view of the osseous defect.
158
Figure 79-4 A Teflon membrane fashioned to surround the defect.
Patient with a PERIODONTAL PROBLEM THAT MERITS SURGERY
Determine:
Whether other problems are present
that would make surgery unwise
Yes
Periodontal problems
too extensive to treat
MAINTENANCE with
hopeless prognosis
No
Untreatable endodontic
or restorative needs or
vertical root fracture
EXTRACT
Consider:
Whether LOA is greater or
less than 5 mm
> 5 mm LOA
GTR
< 5 mm LOA
Determine:
Presence of esthetic requirements
Yes
No
Figure 79-5 The membrane sutured in place and the flaps positioned to
maximize esthetics.
Figure 79-7 Postorthodontic view with space closed, deepest crevice

measurement of 3 mm, and only slight mobility 312 years after surgery.
Additional Readings
Febiger; 1989. p. 332.
Smith DH, Ammons WF, Van Belle G. A longitudinal study of periodontal status comparing osseous recontouring with flap curettage: 1
results after 6 months. J Periodontol 1980;51:367.
Wilson TG, Kornman KS. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 372, 408.
Figure 79-6 The healed area 9 months after surgery and before orthodontic movement.
159
80
European Approach to Guided Tissue Regeneration:

Case Selection
Reiner Mengel and Lavin Flores-de-Jacoby
Periodontal treatment based on the principles of guided tissue

regeneration (GTR) is currently the most advanced of the regenerative methods of periodontal surgery. GTR does, however,
involve a high degree of commitment on the part of both patient
and therapist, not least because two surgical interventions are
necessary in all events.
To attain optimal clinical results, a number of criteria
should be observed when selecting the patient, the most important being patient cooperation. Only those patients who have
been fully informed of the possibilities and limits of GTR should
be given this treatment. Competent work by the therapist
ensures a good chance of success.
This chapter is designed to help the dentist decide whether
a patient is suitable for GTR. Details such as selection of the
appropriate membrane design are dealt with at another level of
decision making.
A
Each patient with periodontitis is given preliminary treatment consisting of two detailed clinical examinations, a
professional supragingival tooth-cleaning session, a subgingival scaling session, and oral hygiene instruction (OHI).
Clinical parameters such as probing attachment loss (PAL),
bleeding on open probing, periodontal recession, tooth
mobility, and furcation involvement are determined at the
outset of treatment and on reevaluation after scaling and
root planing. The findings are correlated with full-mouth
radiographs. Patients with pocket depths as deep as 4 mm
with no bleeding on probing may require no further treatment except regular recall maintenance. In cases of deeper
pocket depths or furcation involvement, consider periodontal surgery. The decision in favor of surgery should be based
on the efficacy of individual plaque control. For this purpose,
a plaque index is recorded during each session. Plaque index
values of less than 15% mean that plaque is found at less
than 15% of the measuring points in the proximal area.
Bleeding on probing is a sign of persistent periodontal
inflammation. In conjunction with increased pocket depths,
bleeding on probing is an indication for surgical intervention.
Vertical osseous defects and furcation involvements are

detected by full-mouth radiography or probing. Use of a
Nabers-type probe may be helpful in cases of furcation
involvement. Only reflection of a flap provides proof that a
defect amenable to GTR is present.
Nonvital teeth with necrotic pulps or irreversible pulpitis

require endodontic treatment before surgery. Vitality testing
160
must be performed with the utmost care because endodontically treated teeth are more susceptible to root resorption.
E
Severely increased tooth mobility (vertical or more than

1 mm horizontal) may cause problems in the healing
process of the periodontal ligament and supporting bone.
Perform splinting or occlusal grinding before GTR.
Microbiologic investigation is called for in clinically suspicious cases. Only those cases in which the extent or rate of
destruction fails to correlate with the quantity of plaque or
age of the patient are suspect. In these situations, testing for
periodontopathogens such as Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans or Porphyromonas and Prevotella may be helpful.
Test kits such as the latex agglutination test are highly recommended for this purpose. Antibiotics are generally prescribed in accordance with accepted rules. Patients must
take adequately high dosages of the appropriate drugs for a
sufficiently long period (ie, at least 10 days).
Regenerative procedures are carried out to restore the original structure and function of tissue severely damaged by
periodontal disease (eg, periodontitis). The regenerative
healing process is characterized by the formation of root
cementum, periodontal ligament, epithelial attachment,
connective tissue attachment, and alveolar bone.
GTR permits regeneration of diseased or lost tissue using the

membrane technique. The best results are achieved in the
treatment of teeth with Class II furcation involvements and
deep, narrow, two- to three-walled intraosseous defects.
GTR also may be used to treat gingival recessions, subject to
the presence of a thick, broad, keratinized gingiva.
Additional Readings
Flores-de-Jacoby L. New perspectives in periodontal therapy: guided tissue regeneration [video cassette]. Berlin: Quintessence Publishing;
1989.
Gottlow J et al. New attachment formation as a result of controlled tissue regeneration. J Clin Periodontol 1984;11:494.
Gottlow J et al. New attachment formation in human periodontium by
guided tissue regeneration. J Clin Periodontol 1986;13:604.
Nyman S et al. New attachment following surgical treatment of human
periodontal disease. J Clin Periodontol 1982;9:290.
Patient with ADVANCED PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Initial therapy
(scaling and root planing, OHI)
Reevaluation
(PAL, bleeding on probing, x-ray films radiograph)
Determine:
Whether plaque-control efforts indicate
that surgery would be beneficial
Plaque index > 15%
Plaque index < 15%

Minimal bleeding on probing
Surgery not advisable

Continue maintenance
Assess:
Defect topography
Assess:
Remaining pocket depths
Pockets
< 5 mm
RESECTIVE
PROCEDURES
Pockets
> 5 mm
TISSUE
ATTACHMENT
PROCEDURES
EXTRACT OR
MAINTENANCE
Nonvital
tooth
Vertical bone defects or

furcation involvements
Endodontic
treatment
Class 3
mobility
Provisional
splinting
Infection with
periopathogens
Use of appropriate
antibiotics
REGENERATIVE PROCEDURES
GTR
161
81
Guided Tissue Regeneration versus Osseous Fill

Steven A. Tsurudome
the additional use of a bone graft. Absorbable barrier membranes alone have shown consistent ability to promote
periodontal regeneration because the unique epithelial
exclusion afforded by the barrier membranes effectively
inhibits the proliferation of the junctional epithelium into
the periodontal defect. Upon visual inspection of the intrabony defect, if the membrane alone does not provide adequate space maintenance, then the clinician always has the
option of the combination bone graft and absorbable barrier membrane technique, as described for the narrow,
deep, one-walled intrabony defects.
The goal of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is to regenerate

lost periodontal structures. The lost periodontal structures
include the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, and cementum. The two most commonly used materials for GTR today are
barrier membranes and graft materials.
A
When a periodontal patient is evaluated for a GTR procedure, the radiographs must first be evaluated to assess the
type of bone loss. Patients with a horizontal type of bone
loss are usually not amenable to GTR procedures, whereas
patients with vertical or intrabony type of bone loss are
possible candidates for GTR procedures.
If the patient has a vertical or intrabony radiographic

defect, the clinician should consider a preliminary treatment plan that may consist of several different GTR technique options; however, the definitive treatment option
should be made at the time of surgery when the surgical
site is reflected, dbrided, and the intrabony defect
exposed for direct visual inspection. The overall defect
depth, width, and the number of associated bony walls
will ultimately dictate the type of regenerative technique
used by the clinician.
If the intrabony defect is narrow and deep with only one

osseous wall, then the combination technique of a bone
graft and absorbable barrier membrane is recommended
for creation and maintenance of the critical space for
regeneration. The use of barrier membranes alone may
cause the membrane to collapse into the defect and obliterate this critical space. Currently, absorbable membranes
are the preferred membranes over the nonabsorbable
types because of the necessity of a secondary surgery for
removal of nonresorbable membranes. This second procedure represents additional trauma to the patient and
the newly regenerated tissues. Thus, most GTR procedures around natural teeth should benefit from using
resorbable membranes.
If the intrabony defect is narrow and deep with two or

three walls, then the membrane alone technique may be
considered. The two or three walls in narrow deep osseous
defects should provide adequate space maintenance and
wound stabilization for predictable regeneration without
162
If the intrabony defect is narrow and shallow with only one

wall, the benefits of GTR become minimal because the
potential gain in regenerated periodontium in shallow
defects is inconsequential. Considering the cost and inherent risks involved in GTR surgery, osseous resective surgery
should be the treatment of choice because of its greater predictability in shallow, wide defect cases.
If the intrabony defect is narrow and shallow with two or

three walls, then a bone graft alone may be considered
because the defect size is sufficient to accommodate the
small quantity of autogenous bone usually harvested from
the oral cavity. In addition, if bone grafts such as demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts are used, the predictability of the regenerative techniques caused by their possible
release of bone-inducing proteins (known as bone morphogenic proteins), as well as maintaining the critical space
for regeneration, can be helpful. The inorganic alloplastic
graft materials, in contrast, may not be recommended
because studies have shown encapsulation with little bone
fill and periodontal regeneration; thus, they serve as space
fillers only. In addition, barrier membranes are not recommended for shallow defects because the risks and benefits
may not warrant their use. The cost of the membrane plus
the inherent increased risk of complications may outweigh
the potential benefit of only a slight gain in regenerated
periodontium.
If the intrabony defect is wide and deep with only one

wall, the prognosis for the tooth decreases dramatically.
The clinician must consider the possibility of extraction in
these cases.
Patient with Evidence of BONE LOSS
Assess: Radiographic film
Vertical or intrabony loss
Defect not amenable

to regeneration
Narrow, deep
intrabony defect
One
wall
Membrane
+ bone
Two or
three walls
Membrane
alone or
Membrane
+ bone
Narrow, shallow
intrabony defect
One
wall
Osseous
resection
Assess: Type of vertical or intrabony bone loss
Two or
three walls
Bone
alone
Wide, deep
intrabony defect
One
wall
Two or
three walls
Extract
Titanium
reinforced
membrane
alone
If the intrabony defect is wide and deep with two or three

walls, the prognosis is only slightly better than that for a
wide and deep defect with only one wall. Extraction again
is a possible option, but if the tooth is strategically important, the clinician may consider the use of a titaniumreinforced membrane with or without the use of a bone
graft to maintain the space and to stabilize the wound for
possible regeneration to occur. However, the clinician must
be aware that the predictability for regeneration of a wide
and deep osseous defect is not great.
If the intrabony defect is wide and shallow with either one,
two, or three walls, the recommended procedure is osseous
resection. The rationale is similar to the recommendations
given earlier for narrow, shallow intrabony defects.
In conclusion, the unique epithelial exclusion and wound

stabilization afforded by the barrier membranes and the
enhanced osteogenic, space-maintaining, and wound-stabilizing
Wide, shallow
intrabony defect
One
wall
Two or
three walls
Osseous
resection
Osseous
resection
Titanium
reinforced
membrane
+ bone
potential afforded by bone grafts (allogenic or autogenic) should

increase the potential of regeneration; thus it is logical and prudent to combine the two techniques whenever possible to
increase the predictability of regeneration of the periodontium
destroyed by periodontal disease and to ultimately improve the
clinical outcome.
Additional Readings
American Academy of Periodontology. Proceedings of the World Workshop in Clinical Periodontics; 1987 Aug; Princeton: The Academy;
p. VI, 2.
Annals of Periodontology. 1996 World Workshop in Periodontics; 1996
Nov; Lansdowne. American Academy of Periodontology; p. 626.
Genco R, Goldman H, Cohen DW. Contemporary periodontics. St.
Wilson T, Kornman K. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 405.
163
82
Selection of Sites for Placing an Atrisorb Membrane

for Guided Tissue Regeneration
Benjamin J. Mandel
Resorbable membranes for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) do

not require a second surgery for removal of the membrane.
Atrisorb is a resorbable membrane created from a solid polymer
of lactic acid dissolved in a liquid carrier, NMP (N-methyl-2
pyrrolidone), which upon exposure to wetting becomes semisolid and is resorbable. It is used as a barrier to prevent cells of
gingival origin from contacting prepared roots until a new connective tissue attachment to the root grows from the periodontal ligament coronally covering exposed root surfaces and eventually creating a new connective tissue attachment to them.
A
For a patient with a localized periodontal problem that may

be amenable to GTR, the number of osseous walls to the bony
defects and the depth of those defects must be determined.
For a one-walled osseous defect, determine the depth of the

defect. If it is shallow (less than 5 mm deep), mucogingivalosseous surgery is indicated. For defects deeper than 5 mm,
GTR with an Atrisorb resorbable membrane is indicated.
164
For a two-walled or three-walled defect, determine the

depth of the pocket and the class of furcation (if any)
involved. If the pocket is less than 5 mm deep, mucogingivalosseous surgery is indicated. If the defect is 5 mm or more
in depth, and no furcation or a shallow one is detected,
GTR with an Atrisorb membrane may be employed. The
same is true for Class II (definite) furcation involvements
associated with two- or three-walled osseous defects.
If the furcation involvement is Class III (through and

through) and a two- or three-walled defect, the practitioner
should determine the value of the tooth in the overall treatment plan. If the tooth is critically important to the success of
the plan, GTR with an Atrisorb membrane may be attempted;
however, success of the procedure is unpredictable.
Hemisection of a tooth with a Class III furcation involvement may be a viable option if the retained root is useful in
the overall treatment plan; however, endodontic treatment
and a crown will be necessary. In some cases, a remaining
roots usefulness may be improved utilizing GTR with an
Atrisorb membrane.
Additional Readings
Polson AM, Southard G, Dunn R, et al. Healing patterns associated with
an Atrisorb barrier in guided tissue regeneration. Compend Educ
Dent 1993;14:16172.
Polson AM, Garret S, Stoller N. Guided tissue regeneration in human
furcation defects after using a biodegradable barrier: a multicenter
feasibility study. J Periodontol 1995;66:37785.
Rosen P, Reynolds M, Bowers G. A technique report on the in situ application of Atrisorb as a barrier for combination therapy. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1998;18:24955.
Stower N, Johnson L. The use of the Atrisorb bio-absorbable barrier during guided tissue regeneration. Postgrad Dent 1997;4:1322.
Patient with a LOCALIZED PERIODONTAL PROBLEM

AMENABLE TO GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION
One-walled defect
Determine:
The number of walls and depth
of the osseous defect(s)
Two-walled defect
Three-walled defect
Shallow < 5 mm
Deep > 5 mm
Shallow < 5 mm
Deep > 5 mm
MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS
SURGERY
GTR with
ATRISORB
MEMBRANE
MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS
SURGERY
Determine:
Class of furcation
if one is involved
Shallow or
minimal
Class I or
Class II
GTR with
ATRISORB
MEMBRANE
Class III
Determine:
Overall importance of the
tooth to treatment plan
Critically
important
Attempt
GTR with
ATRISORB
MEMBRANE
Not critically
important
HEMISECTION
Possible GTR on
remaining root
165
83
New Technique for Preparing and Placing an

Atrisorb Membrane for Guided Tissue Regeneration
Benjamin J. Mandel
Once the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) surgical site is

exposed by flap reflection and dbridement, the involved root
surfaces are planed scrupulously and conditioned (eg, with citric acid) as the practitioner chooses. The Atrisorb membrane is
prepared as follows:
A
A sterile dappen dish (or small cup) is partially filled with

sterile water or saline. The Atrisorb liquids tube is opened,
and the needle tip, which is provided, is placed over the
opened tube.
Determine whether a bone or bone substitute will be

needed as the practitioner chooses, and have it available for
use. Place the opened container and a sterile delivery
device (eg, a periosteum elevator) and an amalgan plugger
on the operating tray.
Determine whether the bone or bone substitute will be

placed in the defect alone first or totally incorporated into
the Atrisorb plus.
Place the sterile water or saline in the dappen dish and drip
the Atrisorb liquid into it. Save about 20% of the liquid in
the tube. Knead the solidifying mass continually until all of
the liquid has become firm (the consistency of soft wax).
This takes several minutes.
166
Determine if the Atrisorb is to be used alone or mixed with

bone or bone substitute, alone, mixed, or over bone placed
initially.
Place the Atrisorb, alone or mixed with bone or bone substitute, into the defect using the periosteum elevator and
amalgan plugger. Fill or slightly overfill the defect and drip
the Atrisorb fluid remaining in the tube over the defect and
wet. Position the flap and suture in place.
By mixing the Atrisorb in the described manner, the defect

can be filled with a firm membrane that will not collapse when
suturing flaps in a more coronal position.
Additional Readings
Polson AM, Southard G, Dunn R, et al. Healing patterns associated with
an Atrisorb barrier in guided tissue regeneration. Compend Educ
Dent 1993;14:16172.
Polson AM, Garret S, Stoller N. Guided tissue regeneration in human
furcation defects after using a biodegradable barrier: a multicenter
feasibility study. J Periodontol 1995;66:37785.
Rosen P, Reynolds M, Bowers G. A technique report on the in situ application of Atrisorb as a barrier for combination therapy. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1998;18:24955.
Stower N, Johnson L. The use of the Atrisorb bio-absorbable barrier during guided tissue regeneration. Postgrad Dent 1997;4:1322.
A patient for whom an ATRISORB GTR MEMBRANE IS TO BE PLACED
Set out materials
Atrisorb liquid and sterile

water in a dappen dish
Determine:
Whether bone or bone
substitute will be utilized
Place sterile water

in dappen dish
Bone
Bone substitute
Drip most of Atrisorb

liquid into water
C
After 1520 seconds,
begin to knead firming
mass with fingers
Determine:
To be used alone, over bone
placed first, or mixed with
bone and then applied?
Alone
Determine:
Will materials be placed
into the defect first alone
or totally incorporated into
Atrisorb before placement?
To be
incorporated
To be placed
alone, first
Mix with
bone
Place in
prepared
defect
Position FLAP
and SUTURE
to PLACE
167
84
European Approach to Guided Tissue Regeneration:

Membrane Selection
Lavin Flores-de-Jacoby and Reiner Mengel
tooth-wide membranes may be employed. Class II (definite) involvements of facial or lingual furcations only are
treated with single-tooth-wide membranes.
A decision also must be reached on whether the membrane is to be resorbable, nonresorbable, or titanium reinforced. Both resorbable and nonresorbable membranes
may be used in cases of two-and three-walled intraosseous
defects and furcation involvements. The precondition is
that no risk of the membrane collapsing into the defect
should be evident; the space-retaining function must be
maintained during the healing phase. In case of doubt, a
titanium-reinforced membrane should be used because this
provides an adequate space-retaining function, especially in
cases of single-walled and major two- to three-walled
intraosseous defects and furcation involvements. The flap is
secured with Gore-Tex suturing material. Nonresorbable
membranes are left for 4 weeks, after which they must be
removed in a second intervention. This is not necessary in
the case of resorbable membranes. In the event of
resorbable or nonresorbable membranes being exposed, an
application of 0.12% solution of chlorhexidine gluconate
twice a day for 4 weeks is prescribed.
The following criteria have been developed as a basis for final

case selection and decision on the type of membrane to be used.
A
The bone around the teeth requiring treatment is exposed

using an intrasulcular incision to create mucoperiosteal
flaps; vertical relief incisions are made at a distance of at
least one premolars width from the defects to be treated.
The mucoperiosteal flap must extend at least 4 mm beyond
the defect margin in an apical direction. The incision must
be designed so that no suture runs across the membrane or
an intra-alveolar defect. An unobstructed view is essential
for optimal cleaning of defects.
Use of a membrane and guided tissue regeneration (GTR)

can be discontinued if an intraosseous defect is shallow and
wide, bone resorption is found to be mainly horizontal, or
Class I furcation involvement is detected. In these cases, the
defect is cleaned thoroughly, any osseous resection is done,
and the flaps are closed again. When teeth are involved in
groups, the usual procedure is that some of the defects are
treated in the standard way, and a few defects require the
use of membranes. More complex cases, in which a number of adjacent defects require the use of membranes,
should be treated only if the periodontal surgeon has sufficient experience in the field of GTR. The main problem is in
the management of the flaps, which should cover the membrane as much as possible for the full 4-week period in
which they remain in situ.
168
Selection of the membrane design is based on the assumption that the following steps are to be taken in all events. As
much as possible the membrane should be completely covered. Treat three-walled defects with a single-tooth-narrow
or single-tooth-wide membrane depending on the size of
the opening to be covered. If circular or semilunar defects
on end-standing teeth (such as distal or second molars) are
wide, use a wraparound barrier. All two-walled defects
between teeth and some mixed one-walled and two-walled
defects require the use of interproximal membranes. Class
III (through and through) furcation involvements on
maxillary molars (although not predictably treatable today)
may be treated with interproximal membranes. Mandibular Class III defects may be similarly treated if an adjacent
tooth is available; if a single, isolated tooth is involved, use
a wraparound membrane. In some cases with Class III furcation involvements on lower molars only, two single-
Hopeless teeth are those that are found during surgery to

have functioning remaining periodontia of less than 3 mm.
Multirooted molars in which more than half of the roots no
longer are supported by bone also are considered hopeless.
Grade III mobility does not make a tooth hopeless; corrective measures can be taken (eg, presurgical splinting, grinding). Therapeutic efforts may be considered worthwhile
even for hopeless teeth, provided that the patient has
given informed consent.
Additional Readings
Flores-de-Jacoby L. New perspectives in periodontal therapy: guided tissue regeneration [video cassette]. Berlin: Quintessence Publishing;
1989.
Gottlow J et al. New attachment formation as a result of controlled tissue regeneration. J Clin Periodontol 1984;11:494.
guided tissue regeneration. J Clin Periodontol 1986;13:604.
Nyman S et al. New attachment following surgical treatment of human
periodontal disease. J Clin Periodontol 1982;9:290.
Patient with DEFECT AMENABLE TO GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION
Full-thickness
flap procedure
Dbridement
Determine:
Whether defect is amenable to GTR on visualization
Not amenable to GTR
MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS
SURGERY
Three-walled
vertical defect
Facial or lingual
Adequate
interdental space
Treatable by GTR
No, hopeless tooth
EXTRACT
Determine:
The size and shape
of barrier to be used
Circular or
semilunar defect
Furcation
involvement
Two-walled or
one-walled defect
(interdental)
End-standing tooth
(eg, distal defects
on second molars)
Wide defect
Class III (through

and through)
Upper
molars
Class II (definite)
Facial or lingual
Lower
molars
Combined furcation
and vertical defect
Tooth with
neighbors
INTERPROXIMAL
MEMBRANE
Only furcation
involvement
Isolated
tooth
SINGLE-TOOTHWIDE MEMBRANES
WRAPAROUND
MEMBRANE
Determine:
Type of materialresorbable, nonresorbable, titanium reinforced, or bone graft
Space-making defects:
Three-walled defects
Two-walled defects
Nonresorbable membrane
with or without bone graft
Resorbable membrane
with or without bone graft
Nonspace-making defects:
One-walled defects
Major three- or two-walled defects
Major furcation involvement
Titanium-reinforced
membrane
Resorbable membrane
with one graft
169
85
Guided Tissue Regeneration for Treatment

of Vertical Osseous Defects
Burton E. Becker and William Becker
The biologic principles of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) are

based on epithelial exclusion and connective tissue exclusion. If
the epithelium can be delayed from contacting the root surface
long enough for the clot to organize, new cementum, periodontal ligament, and bone may have the potential to regenerate.
The use of membranes to exclude the epithelium has been
shown to achieve this clinically and histologically.
A
GTR has been shown to be the most successful treatment

for the deep vertical defect. The deep defect is detected best
by probing depths greater than 5 mm, probing attachment
loss (PAL) greater than 5 mm, and radiographic evidence of
a vertical defect. The Teflon barrier excludes epithelial cells
and flap connective tissues. GTR creates a space in which
the clot may form and protects the clot during the early
phases of wound healing. Teflon membranes made of
expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE, or Gore-Tex)
and resorbable membranes have been used as barriers for
GTR.
A shallow defect is described as having pocket depths less

than 5 mm, PAL less than 5 mm, and radiographic evidence
of a small vertical defect. This type of defect may be treated
with flap dbridement or apically positioned flaps with or
without osseous resection.
If osseous defects that are greater than 5 mm in depth are

exposed, the number of osseous walls that remain determine treatment options. A deep one-walled defect may
require extraction or be amenable to maintenance (even
with a poor prognosis) after mucogingival-osseous surgery.
GTR may be attempted but is not totally predictable.
Two- or three-walled defects that have pocket depths deeper

than 5 mm and PAL greater than 5 mm can be treated with
several modalities of therapy, including flap dbridement,
GTR, or GTR combined with either freeze-dried bone or synthetic grafting materials. GTR has been shown to achieve
greater pocket reduction and gain of attachment than does
flap dbridement alone, but no evidence suggests that GTR
with grafting creates any significant increase in attachment.
Synthetic materials act as fillers. Although decreased probing depths have been demonstrated with their use, little or
no attachment gain has been shown. Defects that have
pocket depths greater than 5 mm, PAL greater than 5 mm,
and, on entry, two- or three-walled vertical defects deeper
than 5 mm with Class II furcations have several options for
therapy. Flap dbridement may be used; however, this type
of defect responds well to GTR. Grafting materials may be
used with GTR, but no evidence exists to suggest that allo-
B
Figure 85-1 A, A deep, vertical, three-walled defect exposed before GTR. B, A wraparound
membrane trimmed and sutured in place covering the vertical defect.
170
Patient with VERTICAL OSSEOUS DEFECT
Consider:
Pocket depth
Attachment loss
Radiographic bone loss
Exposed defect
< 5 mm deep
Exposed defect
> 5 mm deep
Determine:
Number of osseous walls with defect
MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS
SURGERY
One-walled
osseous defect
Two- or three-walled
osseous defect
palatal or lingual moat
F
EXTRACT
Deep three-walled
defect
Determine:
Minimal or
no furcation
Class II
furcation
Class III
furcation
GTR
Maintenance
genic or allographic grafting significantly improves the

result. The presence of a deep Class II furcation makes this
an ideal type of defect to treat with GTR.
E
Most defects that have pocket depths greater than 5 mm

and attachment loss greater than 5 mm may be treated with
GTR. These defects, which usually are found to wrap
around the lingual or palatal aspects of teeth, use the barrier to keep the space in the defect open for a clot to form.
The deep three-walled intrabony defect is the ideal type of
defect for treatment with GTR (Figure 85-1). This type of
defect has been shown to heal with new bone after thorough dbridement. GTR has been shown to provide a predictable reduction in pocket depth and pain and produce
significant new attachment.
The presence of a furcation may alter the likelihood of success with GTR. Class III furcations, however, do not have as
good a prognosis as Class II furcations for successful GTR;
therefore maintenance or extraction should be considered.
EXTRACT
Additional Readings
Becker W et al. Clinical and volumetric analysis of three-walled intrabony defects following open flap debridement. J Periodontol
1986;57:277.
Becker W et al. New attachment after treatment with root isolation procedures: report for treated Class III and Class II furcations and vertical defects. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1988;3:9.
Becker W et al. Root isolation for new attachment. J Periodontol
1987;58:819.
Cortellini P et al. Periodontal regeneration of human intrabony defects.
V. Effect on oral hygiene and long-term stability. J Clin Periodontol 1994;21:606.
guided tissue regeneration. J Periodontol 1986;57:727.
Melcher HH. On the repair potential of periodontal tissues. J Periodontol 1976;47:256.
Schallhorn RG, McClain PR. Combined osseous composite grafting, root
conditioning and guided tissue regeneration. Int J Periodontics
Restorative Dent 1988;8:9.
171
86
Guided Tissue Regeneration or Alternatives

for Treating Furcation Involvements
One of the most common difficulties encountered in treating

periodontal disease is the presence of a furcation involvement.
The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is the regeneration of
the periodontium to a state of health and function. Historically,
with furcation involvement, treatment and prognosis have been
difficult. Results with conventional therapy are unpredictable,
but guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in some furcations consistently has been reported to be predictable if certain characteristics are found.
A
A furcation involvement exists when loss of attachment

exposes the furcation to probing. Depending on how much
attachment has been lost, a furcation can be classified as
Class I, II, or III. Furcation involvements are a periodontal
hazard because they are difficult to clean even by professional means. Class I furcations are those where the tip of
the probe does not catch within the furcation. This situation is easy to control; mild modification of the contour
(odontoplasty) of the crown with a cylindrical finishing bur
allows the tooth to be cleaned.
When the probe catches in the furcation when moved coronally or in either lateral direction, a Class II or Class III furcation involvement is present. If an instrument goes into
one furcation and comes out of another, a through-andthrough or Class III furcation involvement is present; if it
cannot do so, a definite or Class II furcation involvement is
present.
With Class II or III furcation involvement, a decision

whether GTR or resective surgery should be performed is
based on the apical depth of the furcation involvement in
relation to the bone levels between the involved molar and
adjacent teeth. This may be assessed radiographically and
by probing.
172
If the furcation pocket depth is deep to that of the crestal

bone between the involved tooth and its adjacent neighbors, GTR should be considered; however, if root proximity
(see Chapter 76) limits access for dbridement (eg, there is
only a narrow opening), resective surgery is a better option
unless the roots are fused.
In some GTR situations, bone grafting to fill out a space
into which regeneration tissue can grow (and prevent collapse of the membrane into the defect) may be helpful, or
a coronal placement of the flap may be useful.
If the furcation pocket depth is more shallow than the level

of the crestal bone between the involved tooth and its adjacent neighbors, options include osseous surgery (see Chapter 79), hemisection or root amputation, (see Chapter 72),
or extraction (see Chapter 78).
Additional Readings
Anderegg OR, Martin SJ, Gray JL, et al. Clinical evaluation of the use of
decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft with guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of molar furcation invasions. J Periodontol
1991;62:264.
Becker W, Becker B, Berg L, et al. New attachment after treatment with
root isolation procedures: report for treated Class III and Class II
furcations and vertical osseous defects. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1988;3:9.
Carranza FA, Newman MG. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 626.
Gottlow J, Nyman S, Karring T, Wennstrom J. New attachment formation in human periodontium by guided tissue regeneration. J Periodontol 1986;57:727.
Pontoriero R, Lindhe J, Nyman S, et al. Guided tissue regeneration in
degree II furcation involved mandibular teeth. J Clin Periodontol
1988;15:247.
Patient with a COMPLEX DENTAL PROBLEM and a MOLAR with a FURCATION INVOLVEMENT
Determine:
Classification of the furcation involvement
No catch
Definite catch
Class I
Mild odontoplasty;
if treated surgically,
osteoplasty
Determine:
Is it a through-and-through involvement?
No
Yes
Class II
Class III
Assess:
Is floor of the furcation apical to the level of
bone between this molar and adjacent teeth?
Floor of furcation apical to

adjacent tooth at bone level
Floor of furcation coronal to

adjacent tooth at bone level
Assess:
Access to dbride the
furcation (root proximity)
Good access
(spread roots)
GTR (BONE GRAFT,

CORONAL FLAP
PLACEMENT)
Poor access
(narrow opening)
RESECTIVE SURGERY,
HEMISECTION, ROOT
AMPUTATION or
EXTRACTION
173
87
Guided Tissue Regeneration in Two-Walled Osseous Defects

Alberto Sicillia, John Zabelegui, and Francisco Enrile de Rojas
Before studying possible indications for a guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique, the general condition of the patient
should be evaluated. Factors such as systemic diseases or states
that affect the patients healing capacity, smoking, psychologic
apects, and the manual dexterity (all of which may affect treatment and plaque control) must be considered.
A
After this evaluation, the focus is on dental examination.

The size of the intraosseous component of the defect (small,
moderate, or large) must be determined. In shallow defects
(< 2 mm), regeneration is difficult to achieve and often little regeneration may be obtained. The cost/benefit relationship compared with other kinds of treatment is unfavorable. GTR is not recommended.
In moderate (24 mm) and deep defects (> 4 mm), the

prognosis of the adjacent tooth or teeth must be evaluated,
and if hopeless (see Chapter 37), the case is unfavorable for
GTR on the middle tooth.
If the tooth is treatable, analyze the local conditions. Positive findings include the following: (1) an adequate separation (> 2 mm) between the roots of the adjacent teeth,
(2) an anatomy of the affected dental surface that allows a
good adaptation of the membrane and closure of the defect,
(3) a good quantity of healthy periodontium remaining
close to the defect (such as occurs in narrow and deep
defects), and (4) a thick periodontium and adequate
vestibulum to facilitate viability and stability of the flap covering the membrane. If one or more negative conditions
appear, the case should be considered unfavorable for GTR.
If local conditions are positive, evaluate the anatomy of the

defect. If anatomy permits the natural creation of space, a
favorable situation exists. Evaluate the convenience of carrying out GTR in a conventional way with an expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (ePTFE, or Gore-Tex)
or decide whether a resorbable one* would be more efficacious (Figure 87-1).
If the morphology of the defect does not follow the natural

creation of space, the case is not as favorable; however, if
the rest of the local conditions are favorable, GTR may be
attempted using procedures to maintain the space below
the barrier. In terms of predictability according to studies,
these procedures use the following: (1) titanium-reinforced
(TR) membranes, (2) TR membranes and bone grafts (BGs),
(3) ePTFE membranes and BGs, or (4) resorbable membranes and BGs (Figure 87-2).
Additional Readings
Becker W, Becker BE. Treatment of mandibular 3-wall intrabony defects
by flap debridement and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene barrier
membranes. Long-term evaluation of 32 treated patients. J Periodontol 1993;64:1138.
Cortellini P, Pini-Prato G, Tonetti MS. Periodontal regeneration of
human infrabony defects with titanium reinforced membranes. A
controlled clinical trial. J Periodontol 1995;66:797.
Cortellini P, Pini-Prato G, Tonetti MS. Periodontal regeneration of
human intrabony defects with bioresorbable membranes. A controlled clinical trial. J Periodontol 1996;67:217.
Laurell L et al. Clinical use of a bioresorbable matrix barrier in guided tissue regeneration therapy. Case series. J Periodontol 1994;65:967.
McClain PK, Shallhorn RG. Long-term assessment of combined osseous
composite grafting, root conditioning, and guided tissue regeneration. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1993;13:9.
Sanz M et al. Guided tissue regeneration in human Class II furcation and
interproximal infrabony defects after using a bioabsorbable membrane barrier. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. [In press]
Tonetti MS, Pini-Prato G, Cortellini P. Factors affecting the healing response
of intrabony defects following guided tissue regeneration and access
flap surgery. J Clin Periodontol 1996;23:548.
* Short-term scientific data support the use of membranes made from

pure lactide and glycolide polymers (Resolut) or a physical blend of
poly-D, L-lactide, and poly-L-lactide softened with acetyl--butyl citrate (Guidor).
Figure 87-1 Space-making defect treated with resorbable

membrane (A) or Teflon membrane (B).
B
174
Patient with a TWO-WALLED OSSEOUS DEFECT FOR GTR SURGERY
Determine:
Depth of defect
Deep defect
Moderate defect
Assess:
Tooth condition
Treatable
Shallow defect
Hopeless
Evaluate positive local conditions:

Interproximal distance > 2 mm
Favorable tooth anatomy
Adequate soft tissue and vestibulum
Negative
Positive
Determine:
Anatomy of the defect
LOCAL CONDITIONS
UNFAVORABLE
Space-making defect
FAVORABLE FOR GTR
Consider the use of:

1. ePTFE membrane
2. Resorbable membrane
Nonspace-making defect

1. TR membrane
2. TR membrane and BG
3. ePTFE membrane and BG
4. Resorbable membrane and BG
NOT FAVORABLE
FOR GTR
Figure 87-2 Nonspace-making defect (A) treated with a collapsed ePTFE or resorbable membrane (B) or a titanium-reinforced
ePTFE membrane (C) .
C
175
88
Guided Tissue Regeneration in Osseous Dehiscences

contamination of the barrier, both of which may endanger

regeneration. If desirable conditions do not exist, evaluate
the need for mucogingival surgical procedures with or
without membranes as alternatives.
After verifying the suitability of the patient for regenerative

periodontal treatment and establishing the diagnosis of an
osseous dehiscence using the usual methods (see Chapter 107),
approach treatment in the following way:
A
In shallow dehiscences (< 3 mm), regeneration is difficult to

achieve or scant regeneration may be obtained. The
cost/benefit relationship compared with other kinds of
treatment is unfavorable. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR)
is not recommended.
The anatomy of the osseous dehiscence and root prominence must permit adaptation of the membrane, ideally to
the cementoenamel junction of the tooth, completely covering the defect and creating a space beneath the membrane (Figure 88-1).
In moderate (35 mm) and deep (> 6 mm) dehiscences,

determine the prognosis of the affected tooth or teeth, and
if hopeless (see Chapter 37), do not attempt GTR.
If the tooth is treatable, evaluate the adequacy of the

vestibulum and attached gingiva. If they are adequate, GTR
is indicated because it is easier to keep the membrane covered during treatment, preventing gingival recession and
If the area is not spacious and the form of the osseous defect
makes creating space easier, a favorable case exists. Use
GTR with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE, or
GoreTex) or resorbable membrane.* Narrow dehiscences
with thick bony walls make achieving these objectives easier
because a greater quantity of adjacent donor cells exists near
the surface in which regeneration takes place.
Figure 88-1 A, Space-making defect. B, Nonspace-making defect using titanium-supported membrane.
176
Patient with an OSSEOUS DEHISCENCE
Determine:
Size of the dehiscence
Deep dehiscence
Moderate dehiscence
Shallow dehiscence
Assess:
Tooth condition
Treatable
Hopeless
Evaluate:
Adequacy of soft tissues
and vestibulum
Inadequate*
Adequate
Determine:
Anatomy of the bone defect
and root prominence
Space-making
dehiscence
FAVORABLE
FOR GTR

1. ePTFE membrane
2. Resorbable membrane
Nonspace-making
dehiscence

1. TR membrane
2. TR membrane and BG
3. ePTFE membrane and BG
4. Resorbable membrane and BG
5. Space-making resorbable membrane
NOT FAVORABLE
FOR GTR
*Consider mucogingival procedures with or without membranes.
If the osseous defect and morphology of the root do not

allow creation of a space, a space may be created using
titanium-reinforced (TR) membranes alone or with bone
grafts (BGs); ePTFE membranes with osseous grafts (OGs),
resorbable space-creating membranes (Guidor), or resorbable
membranes with OGs also may be used.
* Short-term scientific data support the use of membranes made

from pure lactide and glycolide polymers (Resolut), polyglactin
910 (Vicryl), or a physical blend of poly-D, L-lactide, and poly-Llactide softened with acetyl--butyl citrate (Guidor).
Additional Readings
Cortellini P, Clauser C, Pini-Prato GP. Histological assessment of new
attachment following the treatment of a buccal recession by means of
a guided tissue regeneration procedure. J Periodontol 1993;64:387.
Echeverrfa JJ, Manzanares C. Guided tissue regeneration in severe periodontal defects in anterior teeth. Case reports. J Periodontol 1995;
66:295.
Pini-Prato G et al. Resorbable membranes in the treatment of human
buccal recession: a nine-case report. Int J Periodontics Restorative
Dent 1995;15:259.
Rachlin G et al. The use of a resorbable membrane in mucogingival
surgery. Case series. J Periodontol 1996;67:621.
Roccuzzo M et al. Comparative study of a bioresorbable and nonresorbable membrane in the treatment of human buccal gingival
recessions. J Periodontol 1996;67:7.
Tinti C et al. Guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of human
facial recession. A twelve case report. J Periodontol 1992;63:554.
Tinti C, Vincenzi G, Cocchetto R. Guided tissue regeneration in mucogingival surgery. J Periodontol 1993;64:1184.
177
89
Guided Tissue Regeneration Strategy to Maximize Esthetics:

Selection of the Surgical Approach and the Type of Membrane
Pierpaolo Cortellini, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, and Maurizio Tonetti
Objectives of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in esthetically sensitive sites include complete resolution of the periodontal defect
and preservation of soft tissues. The selection of the proper regenerative strategy is aimed at overcoming common drawbacks of
GTR such as the uncompleted filling of the bony defect and soft
tissue dehiscence, both of which can result in impaired esthetics.
Deep intrabony defects benefit most from GTR therapy.
Anatomic prerequisites for uneventful procedures include the
presence of an adequate band of attached gingiva and the
absence of frena in the area of treatment. GTR treatment should
be initiated after completion of the initial therapy phase.
A
The dentist selects the surgical procedure after considering

the width of the interdental space and correlated thickness
of the interdental tissues. The interdental space is considered wide if the interdental tissues exceed 2 mm mesiodistally. If the interdental tissues are less than 2 mm, the interdental space is classified as narrow.
If the interdental space is wide, the surgical procedure of

choice is the modified papilla preservation technique
(MPPT) (Cortellini and colleagues, 1995b). The interdental

papilla is horizontally dissected at its base on the buccal side
and elevated with a palatal full-thickness flap. After membrane positioning, the papilla is repositioned through the
interdental space to cover the barrier and passively sutured
to the buccal flap to obtain primary closure (Figure 89-1). If
the interdental space is narrow, the simplified papilla preservation technique (SPPT) should be used. The interdental
papilla is obliquely dissected to augment the connective tissue surface for the subsequent primary closure of the flap
over the barrier membrane.
C
The bony defect associated with the periodontal pocket

may be a pure intrabony defect with the residual interproximal bone crest close to the cementoenamel junction
(CEJ) or it may have a horizontal component on top of the
intrabony component. In the latter case, the interproximal
bone crest is located at a distance from the CEJ. The recognition of these two types of osseous defects is relevant for
the selection of the barrier membrane.
Figure 89-1 A, Preoperative view of a deep defect on the lateral incisor. B, The osseous defect has one-walled to three-walled components. C, A titaniumreinforced ePTFE interproximal membrane in place. D, The modified papilla preservationdesigned flap sutured over the membrane. E, The membrane exposed 6 weeks after surgery. F, Regeneration tissue exposed after membrane removal. G, The sutured flaps covering the regeneration tissue.
H, The healed result.
178
Patient with an INTRABONY DEFECT INVOLVING ANTERIOR TEETH
Determine:
Whether the interdental space is wide or narrow
Wide
MPPT
SPPT
Assess:
Whether the defect is solely a deep intrabony one or whether
a horizontal, suprabony component is evident as well
Deep intrabony only
Narrow
Narrow
Deep intrabony
and suprabony
Resorbable
membrane
Wide
Resorbable
membrane
ePTFE titanium
NFGT coverage at membrane removal
Gingival dehiscence
No gingival dehiscence
FGG
Flap
An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE, or Gore-Tex)

titanium-reinforced membrane is selected if a horizontal
component to the defect is present and the intrabony defect
is wide (Cortellini and colleagues, 1995c). In such cases the
self-supporting membrane may be positioned and maintained near the CEJ; it does not collapse into the wide
defect after flap closure.
If a nonresorbable ePTFE titanium membrane is used, its

removal is planned at about 6 weeks. At that time the tissue covering the membrane still may be preserved or may
conversely be dehiscent. In the first instance, the newly
formed gingival tissue (NFGT) may be properly covered by
repositioning the flap. If a gingival dehiscence is present,
NFGT coverage is difficult. Proper protection of the regenerated tissue may be achieved with a saddle-shaped free
gingival graft (FGG) positioned in the interdental space
(Cortellini and colleagues, 1995a).
A resorbable barrier membrane is preferred if a narrow,

solely intrabony defect is to be treated (Cortellini and colleagues, 1996). The anatomy of this defect should allow
positioning of the membrane near the CEJ and prevent its
collapse into the defect.
If a resorbable membrane is used, a possible dehiscence
of the flap cannot be treated in the early healing phase. An
anatomic correction of the consequent soft-tissue deficiency should be postponed after completion of the healing
until 9 to 12 months after the regenerative procedures.
Additional Readings
Cortellini P, Pini-Prato G, Tonetti M. Interproximal free gingival grafts
after membrane removal in GTR treatment of infrabony defects. A
controlled clinical trial indicating improved outcomes. J Periodontol 1995a;66:488.
Cortellini P, Pini-Prato G, Tonetti M. The modified papilla preservation
technique. A new surgical approach for interproximal regenerative
procedures. J Periodontol 1995b;66:261.
Cortellini P, Pini-Prato G, Tonetti M. Periodontal regeneration of human
infrabony defects with titanium reinforced membranes. A controlled clinical trial. J Periodontol 1995c;66:797.
Cortellini P, Pini-Prato G, Tonetti M. The modified papilla preservation
technique with bioresorbable barrier membranes in the treatment
of intrabony defects. Case reports. Int J Periodontics Restorative
Dent 1996;16:547.
Cortellini P, Pini-Prato G, Tonetti M. The simplified papilla preservation
technique. A new surgical approach for the management of soft tissues in regenerative procedures. J Periodontol. [submitted]
Tonetti M, Pini-Prato G, Cortellini P. Periodontal regeneration of human
intrabony defects. IV. Determinants of the healing response. J Periodontol 1993;64:934.
179
PART 11
SURGICAL TREATMENT
Mucogingival-Osseous Surgery
Gingival Augmentation
MUCOGINGIVAL-OSSEOUS SURGERY
90 Apically Positioned Flap Procedure
Walter B. Hall
91 Minimally Invasive Surgery
Stephen K. Harrel
92 Palatal Flap Design
Walter B. Hall
93 Osseous Recontouring
Walter B. Hall
94 Osteoplasty
Luther H. Hutchens Jr
95 Bone Fill Regenerative Procedures
Perry R. Klokkevold and Paulo M. Camargo
96 Application of Bone Fill Regenerative Procedures
Paulo M. Camargo, Perry R. Klokkevold, and Vojislav Lekovic
97 Reevaluation after a Bone Fill Regeneration Procedure
98 Guided Tissue Regeneration in Three-Walled Osseous Defects
99 One-Walled Osseous Defect
Walter B. Hall
100 Treating a Crater-Type Two-Walled Osseous Defect
Walter B. Hall
101 Treating a Three-Walled Osseous Defect
Walter B. Hall
102 Approaches to Retromolar Defects
103 Suturing Following Periodontal Surgery
Walter B. Hall
104 Dressing Following Surgery
Walter B. Hall
105 Pharmacologic Management of Periodontic Pain
Mauricio Ronderos and Joseph Levy
106 Restoration Following Mucogingival-Osseous or Regenerative Surgery
Walter B. Hall
PART 11 Surgical Treatment: Mucogingival-Osseous Surgery
90
Apically Positioned Flap Procedure

Walter B. Hall
The apically positioned flap procedure is the most commonly

used surgical approach to pocket elimination and osseous
recontouring. Its advantages include its wide spectrum of usefulness, retention of most existing gingiva, and ability to solve
both mucogingival-osseous and pure mucogingival problems.
Because the flaps are fully reflected, the access and vision
requirements for osseous procedures are achieved. The major
disadvantages of the apically positioned flap procedure include
possible unacceptable esthetic results in areas in which esthetics may be important and the greater likelihood of root sensitivity because of root exposure. Guided tissue regeneration
(GTR) better resolves these problems with less esthetic compromise (see Chapter 79)
A
If the flap will extend to a canine tooth or another tooth

with a similarly long crown, an envelope flap approach
may be used. If access for visibility cannot be obtained adequately with that approach, vertical-releasing incisions may
be used. Usually they are placed at the proximal line angle
of the tooth at the end of a surgical segment.
If adequate attached gingiva will remain if the flap is positioned at the crest of the bone, the incision for the flap is
made with an internal bevel to the crest of the alveolus on
the facial and lingual surfaces. It is scalloped interdentally to

retain additional gingiva to fit interproximally when the flap
is sutured. It should be filleted so that its thickness is similar
over the tooth root and interdentally. If additional attached
gingiva is needed, it may be created by leaving several millimeters of coronal bone denuded when the flap is positioned apically. This denuded area will granulate and heal as
gingiva, which, when added to the apically positioned old
gingiva, will create a band of attached gingiva 2 to 5 mm
high. Such a flap need not be scalloped to fulfill this need.
C
In the apically positioned flap approach, the flap is fully

reflected into alveolar mucosa (in contrast to the modified
Widman flap approach). Because the palate does not have
alveolar mucosa, a gingival flap in that area cannot be apically positioned and is created differently (see Chapter 92).
Next the remaining interdental and marginal tissue is
removed with curets and chisels, exposing the bone and any
osseous defects. These may be treated by osseous recontouring (see Chapter 93) or bone fill (see Chapter 95). If any
defects are amenable to GTR, this technique should be
employed preferentially to pocket elimination because it
provides greater support, better esthetics, and easier cleansing of the area when healed.
When the flap is positioned and sutured, if no additional

gingiva is to be created by denudation, it may be sutured
tightly at the level of the crest of bone and the pack placed
(Figure 90-1). If more attached gingiva is needed, the flap
may be positioned so that some bone is exposed, and it may
be sutured loosely with suspensory sutures to establish its
position before pack placement. Healing is more rapid if the
only bone left exposed is between teeth. Ideally performed,
the apically positioned flap should result in pocket elimination with improved gingival form, facilitating plaque
removal by the patient.
A
Additional Readings
B
Figure 90-1 A, The internal bevelled, scalloped incision is used for
pocket elimination through apical repositioning of the flap. B, The flap
positioned apically for pocket elimination.
180
Ariudo A, Tyrell H. Repositioning and increasing the zone of attached

gingiva. J Periodontol 1957;28:106.
Nabers CL. Repositioning the attached gingiva. J Periodontol 1954;25:38.
Wilson JG, Kornman KS. Fundamentals of periodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 383.
Patient scheduled for POCKET ELIMINATION SURGERY ON THE

MANDIBULAR ARCH OR THE FACIAL ASPECT OF THE MAXILLARY ARCH
Determine:
Need for vertical-releasing incision(s)
Segment stops at
canine (or long tooth)
Segment stops
elsewhere
Envelope flap
approach
Vertical-releasing
incisions
Determine:
Need for additional attached gingiva
Has adequate
attached gingiva
Needs additional
attached gingiva
Scalloped incision
Straighter incision
Reflect flaps fully

Remove interdental and marginal tissue
Perform osseous recontouring or bone
fill procedure
Assess:
Need for additional attached gingiva
Has adequate
attached gingiva
Needs additional
attached gingiva
Position flap at
alveolar crest
Suture tightly
in place
Pack
Position flap to leave

several millimeters
of bone exposed
Suture loosely
(suspensory type)
Pack
181
91
Minimally Invasive Surgery

Stephen K. Harrel
The basis of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is that the flap

used for access to the defect is much smaller than the one used
in other, traditional periodontal surgical techniques. The MIS
flap is confined to an area of a single osseous defect, and it is
reflected just enough to permit removal of granulation tissue
and root dbridement of that defect. Traditional, wide reflection
for visualization is avoided. MIS can be accomplished using
standard operating lights, small mirrors (judiciously), small
curets, and small scalpels. Magnification using surgical telescopes with high-intensity headlights and/or fiber-optic probes
will improve visualization, and the use of mechanical granulation tissue-removing instruments will speed dbridement of the
defect. Endoscopic cameras that can be placed into the surgical
site can also be used to facilitate MIS.
The MIS flap is reflected only to the mucogingival junction.
No vertical incisions are used. Care is taken that the flaps are not
folded during retraction, and strict caution is used to minimize
soft-tissue trauma. All of these steps are based on the goal of
causing the least amount of damage to the blood supply of the
soft tissue. By working carefully, it is possible to retain all or most
of the soft-tissue height (papilla) for improved postsurgical
esthetics. Maintenance of the blood supply during surgery may
improve regenerative procedures and also help in the retention
of soft tissue. To maintain the blood supply to the soft tissue and
to minimize soft-tissue trauma, a single vertical mattress suture
is used to close interproximal flaps. The use of multiple sutures
even if those sutures are extremely fineshould be avoided.
MIS can be used for flap dbridement or flap curettage procedures, but it is most often used for regenerative procedures in
isolated sites. The MIS technique most often reported is that
using freeze-dried demineralized bone covered by a polyglactin
910 membrane (Vicryl) to stabilize the graft. Using this technique yields regenerative results that are equal to or better than
those from using traditional surgical procedures. In addition, the
small incision seems to produce far less patient discomfort and
little or no recession is reported. Due to the small surgical access,
MIS is not applicable for use with osseous surgery.
A
182
The patient has undergone nonsurgical therapy to reduce

or eliminate pockets and, after a suitable length of time,
periodontal status is reevaluated. If isolated defects of 5 mm
or greater are still present, MIS may be considered.
MIS may be indicated if the defect is isolated, such as an

interproximal defect or the mesial or distal aspect of a single tooth. If the defect continues around multiple teeth or
is affecting three surfaces on a single tooth (ie, mesial, buccal, and distal), access incisions larger than those afforded
by MIS are probably indicated.
In MIS procedures the incisions are isolated to the area of

bone loss, and they do not extend beyond the interproximal
papilla. MIS flaps are freed with sharp dissection only. Granulation tissue is carefully removed to visualize the osseous
defect. Care is taken to preserve as much blood supply to the
soft tissue as possible (eg, with minimal retraction and
preservation of the periostealsoft-tissue attachment).
If the osseous defect does not have a vertical component,

an open dbridement can be performed with the soft tissue
returned to its original position. The MIS flap is closed using
a vertical mattress suture.
If the osseous defect contains a vertical component, a

regenerative procedure is performed. This can be an
osseous graft stabilized with Vicryl or the use of a growth
enhancer (Emdogain), or a combination of both. The MIS
flap is closed using a vertical mattress suture.
Additional Readings
Harrel SK. A minimally invasive surgical approach for bone grafting. Int
J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1998;18:1619.
Harrel SK. A minimally invasive surgical approach for periodontal
regeneration: surgical technique and observations. J Periodontol
1999;70:154757.
Harrel SK, Nunn M, Belling CM. Long-term results of minimally invasive surgical approach for bone grafting. J Periodontol 1999;70:
155863.
Harrel SK, Rees TD. Granulation tissue removal in routine and minimally invasive surgical procedures. Compend Cont Educ Dent
1995;16:960967.
Harrel SK, Wright JM. Treatment of periodontal destruction associated
with a cemental tear using minimally invasive surgery. J Periodontol 2000;71.
Patient being considered for MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY
Nonsurgical treatment
followed by reevaluation
Determine:
Depth and number of osseous
defects in the area to be treated
No defects
> 5 mm
MAINTENANCE
Isolated osseous
defects 5 mm
Multiple continuous
defects 5 mm
Candidate for MIS
Traditional OSSEOUS or
REGENERATIVE SURGERY
Make MIS incisions in

area of defect only
Determine:
Is a vertical osseous
defect present or not?
No vertical
defect
FLAP CURETTAGE or
WIDMAN PROCEDURE
Vertical defect
present
BONE GRAFT and/or GUIDED

TISSUE REGENERATION
PROCEDURE
183
92
Palatal Flap Design

Walter B. Hall
An apically positioned flap approach cannot be employed in

mucogingival-osseous surgery involving the palate because no
alveolar mucosa is present on the palate to permit apical positioning. Instead pocket elimination is achieved by designing a
palatal flap that just covers the contours of the bone created by
osseous recontouring to eliminate osseous defects. The conceptualization of the flap design requires skill and experience.
If osseous defects are present on the palatal aspects of teeth,

the amount of soft tissue that must be eliminated on each
tooth is determined by the nature of the osseous defects
present interproximally and on the palatal aspects of each
tooth, an estimate of the amount of osteoplasty needed to
facilitate oral hygiene and flap adaptation, and the amount
of soft tissue to be eliminated in creating a flap of uniform
thickness to cover the reshaped bone and just cover the
new osseous crests (Figures 92-1 and 92-2). Narrow threewalled defects (1 mm or less horizontally from the crest of
bone to the tooth) usually will fill when fully dbrided,
whereas other defectsif not treatable by guided tissue
regenerationrequire elimination by ostectomy.
If defects are sufficiently narrow that bone fill should occur,

the margin of the flap should be cut apically to the existing
crest of the bone at a distance that depends on the amount
of osteoplasty anticipated to create osseous form (to enhance
plaque control and flap adaptation) and the bulk of connective tissue to be removed in creating a uniformly thick flap.
If little osteoplasty or soft-tissuebulk reduction is anticipated, the flap edge should be cut only a little apically to the
existing crest of bone. The greater the amount of osteoplasty
or soft-tissue reduction anticipated, the further apically to
the existing osseous crest the flap edge should be cut.
If the defects are not amenable to osseous fill, ostectomy is

required to eliminate the osseous defects. In deciding the
degree to which to scallop the flap so that it just covers the
new bone margin on suturing, the dentist must estimate
the approximate amount of ostectomy required and correlate those expectations with an estimate of the amount of
osteoplasty or soft-tissuebulk reduction needed to facilitate plaque control and flap adaptation (Figure 92-3). If little osteoplasty or bulk reduction is anticipated, the scalloping is less dramatic; the greater the amount of bone or
soft-tissue bulk to be removed, the more severely apically
the scalloping should be placed.
Figure 92-1 Initial incision thinning of the flap.
Figure 92-2 Exposure of the underlying connective tissue with the flap.
Additional Readings
Figure 92-3 Flap repositioned after removal of connective tissue of

pocket walls.
184
Nevins M, Mellonig JT. Periodontal therapy: clinical approaches and evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 170.
Oschsenbein C, Bohannon HM. Palatal approach to osseous surgery. I.
Rationale. J Periodontol 1963;34:60.
Oschsenbein C, Bohannon HM. Palatal approach to osseous surgery. II.
Clinical applications. J Periodontol 1964;35:54.
Rateitshak KH et al. Color atlas of periodontology. Stuttgart: ThiemeVerlag; 1985. p. 199.
1990. p. 469.
Patient scheduled for POCKET-ELIMINATION SURGERY ON THE PALATE
Determine:
Possibilities for bone fill
Need for ostectomy and osteoplasty
Defects appear to be
amenable to bone fill
Determine:
Anticipated position of crestal
bone when fully healed
Estimate:
Amount of osteoplasty to be done
or of thick soft tissue to be removed
Defects appear to require

osseous recontouring
Determine:
Anticipated position of crestal
bone after osseous resection
Estimate:
Amount of osteoplasty to be done
or of thick soft tissue to be removed
Little bone or
soft-tissue thickness
to be eliminated
Significant bone or
to be eliminated
Little bone or
to be eliminated
Significant bone or
to be eliminated
Scallop flap only a little

apically to current
osseous crest
Scallop flap significantly

apically to current
osseous crest
Scallop flap less

dramatically so that
margin of flap will lie
at new crest of bone
Scallop flap more

severely midroot so
that margin of flap will
lie at new crest of bone
185
93
Osseous Recontouring
Walter B. Hall
Osseous recontouring includes the full or partial elimination of

osseous defects and sculpting of bone to facilitate the closure of
flaps and permit the most ideal access for plaque removal by the
patient after healing. It may include both ostectomy (the
removal of supporting bone) and osteoplasty (the reshaping of
the bony surface). It usually is used after internal bevel, fullthickness, apically positioned flap exposure of the bone surrounding periodontally involved teeth.
A
If pocket-elimination surgery employing osseous contouring has been selected as the appropriate method of treating
a case, the need for ostectomy relates to the type of osseous
defect involved, which is described by the number of
osseous walls remaining (see Chapters 99, 100, 101).
If no osseous defects are present, the only ostectomy necessary is to correct reversed architecture.
If one- and two-walled intrabony defects are present, they

are ramped out by eliminating the remaining osseous walls
Figure 93-1 Reversed osseous architecture created by periodontitis

(preoperative).
to the level of bone on the adjacent tooth. This procedure

usually is done with a round bur and various chisels.
D
If a three-walled intrabony defect is present and guided tissue regeneration cannot be done (see Chapter 101), and a
wide gap is evident between the crest of bone and the tooth
(greater than 1 mm from crest of tooth), it should be
ramped in the same manner until a narrow (less than
1 mm) gap remains. Narrow three-walled defects routinely
fill with bone from the walls of the defect, and new
attachment usually occurs as the connective tissue regenerates from the periodontal ligament.
Interproximal grooving (osteoplasty) is performed to create

a festooned form to the fully healed area, facilitate closure
of the flaps interproximally, and permit greater interproximal penetration of toothbrush bristles during brushing.
If exostoses or ledges are present, they are ramped to create

an even, flowing surface to facial and lingual bone to facilitate flap closure and improve plaque removal possibilities
for the patient.
If reversed architecture (the more coronal positioning of

bone facially or lingually rather than interproximally) is
present or occurs after ostectomy (Figure 93-1), it should
be corrected with a chisel to create positive architecture
(the more apical positioning of bone facially or lingually
rather than interproximally). Creating positive architecture
from reversed architecture is discussed later (Figure 93-2).
On completion of osseous recontouring, the roots are

planed to remove any nicks created by the instrumentation,
the flaps are sutured in place, a dressing is placed, and postoperative instructions are given to the patient.
Additional Readings
Figure 93-2 Corrected reversed architecture.
186
Mosby; 1988. p. 838.
Heins PG. Osseous surgery: an evaluation after twenty years. Dent Clin
North Am 1969;13:75.
Newman MG, Takei HH, Carranza FA. Carranzas clinical periodontology. 9th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2002. p. 790802.
Prichard JF. A technique for treating intrabony pockets based on alveolar process morphology. Dent Clin North Am 1968;85.
Schluger S. Osseous resectiona basic principle in periodontal surgery.
Oral Surg 1949;2:316.
Febiger; 1990. p. 501.
Patient for POCKET-ELIMINATION SURGERY WITH FLAPS REFLECTED
Assess:
Types of osseous defects present
No osseous defects
One-walled defect
Two-walled defect
Three-walled defect
Ramp out defects
Assess:
Gap between crest
of bone and tooth
Gap wide
at crest
Gap narrow
at crest
Dbride for bone fill

(see Chapter 95)
Interproximal
grooving
Determine:
Existence of exostoses, ledges
No exostoses
or ledges
Exostoses
or ledges
Remove by ramping
Determine:
Existence of reversed architecture
Reversed
architecture
No reversed
architecture
Create positive architecture
Plane roots
Suture flaps
Place dressing
Postoperative
instructions
187
94
Osteoplasty
Luther H. Hutchens Jr
primary closure in the interproximal space (Figure 94-2).

Ideal closure of the interdental area facilitates pocket reduction and allows good flap adaption. The use of the modified
Widman flap often requires some osteoplasty to allow for
tight closure in the repositioning of the flap. Marginal bone
osteoplasty also is used to facilitate procedures and improve
the patients oral hygiene. Patients who are unable to
achieve optimal plaque control in marginal areas because of
excessive contours of bone or deep subgingival restorative
margins may benefit from osteoplasty of the crestal bone.
This situation is particularly true in Class II furcation areas
in which access for oral hygiene is difficult.
By definition, osteoplasty is the reshaping of the alveolar process

to achieve a more physiologic form without removal of alveolar
(supporting) bone. Osteoplasty is used frequently in periodontal
therapy to reshape osseous structures around the teeth.
A
Maxillary and mandibular facial or lingual exostoses or tori

often are present as a result of hereditary anatomic bony
variations, heavy occlusal loading, and parafunctional
habits. The presence of exostoses or tori may necessitate
bone reshaping to improve periodontal health and patient
comfort. Normal crestal alveolar bone also may require
reshaping in some clinical situations in which heavy marginal ledges and increased cortical plate thickness are evident in interproximal and interradicular areas.
Patient discomfort often is a chief complaint because of the

presence of exostoses or tori. These bony prominences are
subject to trauma, aphthae, and herpetic ulcerations. Reduction of these bony contours may be achieved with flap
access and osteoplasty using rotary surgical burs and hand
instruments.
Osteoplasty may be required to facilitate pocket reduction

or elimination, flap placement, oral hygiene, and restorative procedures. If the therapist determines that intrabony
pockets should be eliminated and supportive osseous structures removed to create a normal parabolized osseous
architecture (ostectomy), osteoplasty of the crestal bone
height and thickness often is required before ostectomy.
Also, interproximal and interradicular vertical grooving is
sometimes necessary to create a physiologic form to which
the gingival tissues may adapt (Figure 94-1). Reshaping of
cortical projections and facial and lingual ledges also facilitates flap placement when efforts are being made to obtain
Figure 94-1 Osseous grooving, performed with various rotating burs or

stones, permits better adaptation of flaps to facilitate plaque removal
after healing. Illustration shows diamond stones and round bur being
used for grooving.
188
Edentulous ridge modifications often are required to facilitate the placement of fixed prosthetic pontics and increase
access for patient oral hygiene after the prosthesis is placed.
Decreased ridge height and excessive ridge thickness may
require reshaping of the alveolar ridge before prosthetic
placement. Ridge modification in the anterior part of the
mouth often improves restorative esthetics. Osteoplasty to
flatten the edentulous ridge often is required to facilitate
the surgical placement of root-form implants.
Extensive subgingival caries, faulty restorations, pin perforations, and root proximity are some clinical situations that
require surgical exposure of the tooth to facilitate adequate
restoration. Although both ostectomy and osteoplasty are
usually required in this procedure, many times osteoplasty
Figure 94-2 Illustration of closure with and without grooving.
Patient with OSSEOUS STRUCTURES FOR RESHAPING

Excludes:
Edentulous ridge plasty
Postoperative alveoloplasty
Determine:
Osseous structure contours
Exostoses (tori)
Crestal alveolar bone
Patient experiencing
discomfort
Consider:
Need for osteoplasty
to facilitate procedure
FLAP ACCESS OSSEOUS

RECONTOURING by
OSTEOPLASTY
Pocket
elimination
Flap
placement
Oral
hygiene
Restorative
procedures
Regeneration
(GTR)
Improve
esthetics
Ridge
modification
Crown
lengthening
APICALLY POSITIONED FLAP

followed by OSTEOPLASTY
OSTECTOMY
of the crestal areas facilitates apical flap placement and

allows for better access for the restoration. Exposure of short
clinical crowns by osseous reshaping and apical flap positioning often may improve anterior esthetics.
F
Exostosis and torus removal, ridge modifications, and most

osteoplasty procedures are preceded by apical positioning of
the flap at the osseous margin. Osteoplasty done in conjunction with pocket elimination of crown extension procedures usually requires removal of supportive bone (ostectomy) and apically positioned flaps.
Regeneration procedures using implant materials (osseous
autografts, allografts, and alloplastic grafts) may require osteoplasty to improve the coronal positioning of the flap for
implant coverage. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) also may

require osteoplasty to improve flap coverage of synthetic
membranes.
Additional Readings
Friedman N. Periodontal osseous survey: osteoplasty and ostectomy. J
Louis: Mosby; 1990. p. 569, 629.
Schulger S et al. Periodontal diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger; 1990. Ch. 3.
Yuodelis RA, Smith DH. Corrections of periodontal abnormalities as a
preliminary phase of oral rehabilitation. Dent Clin North Am
1976;20:181.
189
95
Bone Fill Regenerative Procedures

Perry R. Klokkevold and Paulo M. Camargo
Periodontal pockets greater than 5 mm following phase I therapy

are difficult for patients to maintain and may be susceptible to further breakdown. These areas should be evaluated and considered
for either pocket reduction or bone fill regenerative surgery.
Increased success can be achieved with a decision-making process
aimed at controlling those clinical factors that contribute to less
favorable outcomes with bone fill regenerative procedures. The
decision pathway includes evaluation of important criteria such
as plaque control, amount and type of bone loss, tooth mobility,
degree of furcation involvement, and root proximity.
A
190
amenable to complete osseous resection can be partially

resected (coronal aspect) and partially regenerated (base of
the defect) using bone fill regenerative procedures. The apical end of these crater defects, which is typically narrower
with three walls, respond favorably to bone fill regenerative
procedures.
G
Initial therapy should precede these surgical approaches so

that inflammation and infection are minimized. The control
of plaque is the most important determinant of success in
all surgical procedures used to treat periodontal defects.
Patients with poor plaque control should be managed with
nonsurgical therapy and oral hygiene instruction (OHI)
until an acceptable level of plaque control is achieved.
Vertical bone loss with a resultant intrabony defect can

result in moat-shaped defects. A wide variety of approaches
have been used to treat intrabony defects. These lesions,
especially those with two or three walls, respond well to
bone fill regenerative procedures. Most notably, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with or without bone graft materials (eg, autogenous bone, decalcified freeze-dried bone,
hydroxyapatite, bovine bone) has yielded favorable results
when used to treat intrabony defects.
Patients with periodontal pockets that are not associated

with vertical bone loss (ie, intraosseous defects) should be
managed with surgery directed at reducing the suprabony
pockets, such as flap curettage, open flap dbridement, or
gingivectomy. In the anterior portion of the mouth, it may
be better to maintain these areas with a nonsurgical
approach if postsurgical gingival recession would create an
esthetic compromise.
In areas with furcations where there has been bone loss

extending apically less than 4 mm from the crotch of the
furca, the defect can be well managed with osseous surgery
and apically positioned flaps. This will result in a papillalike projection of gingival tissue in the furcation with
pocket depths of 2 to 3 mm. Bone fill regenerative procedures do not provide significant advantages for the Class I
furcation defect with minimal bone loss.
There have been a number of reports of successful treatment

of Class II furcation defects using such bone fill regenerative
procedures as GTR, osseous grafts, and coronally repositioned flaps. Combinations of bone graft materials and GTR
or coronally repositioned flaps have been beneficial.
Class III furcation defects in lower molars generally have a

poor prognosis. If the appropriate anatomic conditions are
present, such as adequate root separation, a short root
trunk, treatable root canals, and an adequate residual boneencased root volume, then hemisection with the use of one
or both roots is indicated.
Class III furcation defects do not respond well to bone fill

regenerative procedures. Exposed root surfaces, especially
in the furcation, are at increased risk of caries. Any surgical
approach to these areas will carry a guarded prognosis for
the future periodontal health of the affected teeth. Surgical
therapy for Class III furcation defects tends to be limited to
open flap dbridement with or without exposure of the furcation for postsurgical maintenance (tunnel procedure).
The ultimate success and management of periodontal

osseous defects following any surgical (bone fill regenerative or nonregenerative) procedure must emphasize control
of bacterial plaque in order to maintain the beneficial
results of the surgery. Generally, postsurgical patients
Teeth with advanced bone loss will become more mobile

after periodontal surgery that may be more problematic
and lead to loss of teeth sooner. In cases with a poor prognosis, the teeth are best treated with maintenance. In addition to scaling and root planing, occlusal adjustment and
splint therapy aimed at reducing occlusal trauma and stabilizing mobile teeth can be helpful.
If a tooth has lost 80% or more of its supporting bone volume and has significant mobility (class 2+ or greater) following initial therapy, then bone fill regenerative procedures have little, if any, chance of success. In these hopeless
situations, extraction should be considered, and the area
should be evaluated for prosthetic replacement with
implants or conventional dentistry.
Horizontal defects have not responded well to bone fill
regenerative procedures. Until evidence of successful bone
regeneration in horizontal bone loss becomes available,
these areas are best treated with pocket-elimination flap
procedures with or without osseous resective surgery.
Crater defects are best managed with nonregenerative surgical procedures such as osseous resection and apically
positioned flaps. Extremely deep craters that are not
Patient with a 5 mm POCKET FOLLOWING PHASE I THERAPY
Evaluate oral hygiene

Plaque control ?
Poor
OHI and nonsurgical

therapy
Reevaluation
Good
Radiographic evaluation
Bone loss ?
None
Surgical procedure without

grafting or nonsurgical therapy
C
< Class 2 mobility
< 80% volume
80% volume
Check
MOBILITY
D
Class 2+ mobility
E
HORIZONTAL
Bone loss involved
Furcation ?
No
Type of bone
loss defect
F
Crater defect
Maintenance therapy
OHI
Adjust occlusion
Splint therapy
Consider:
Extraction
Surgical procedure
without grafting
Surgical procedure
without grafting
VERTICAL
G
Intrabony defect
Yes
Class II
Bone loss > 4 mm from crotch of furcation
Classification of
furcation invasion
Class I
Bone loss < 4 mm from crotch of furcation
Bone fill
regenerative procedure
Nonsurgical therapy
or surgical procedure
without grafting
Bone fill
regenerative procedure
Class III
Bone loss < 4 mm from crotch of furcation
J
Inadequate root separation
Assessment of
root proximity
K
Good root separation
should be seen frequently (every 2 or 3 months) for maintenance scaling, polishing, and OHI during the first year
after therapy. Thereafter, maintenance intervals can be
adjusted according to the patients varying ability to maintain good oral hygiene.
M
Hemisection
All patients, regardless of therapeutic modality, should be

reevaluated annually. Using the same decision-making
pathway, areas with 5 mm or greater pockets should be
evaluated and treated appropriately.
Additional Readings
Gantes B, Martin M, Garrett S, et al. Treatment of periodontal furcation
defects. II. Bone regeneration in mandibular class II defects. J Clin
Bone fill regenerative

procedure (guarded
prognosis)
Garrett S, Bogle G. Periodontal regeneration with bone grafts. Curr Opin

Periodontol 1994;168.
Hamp S, Nyman S, Lindhe J. Periodontal treatment of multirooted
teeth: results after 5 years. J Clin Periodontol 1976;2:126.
Lekovic V, Kenney EB, Carranza FA, et al. Treatment of grade II furcation defects using porous hydroxylapatite in conjunction with a
polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. J Periodontol 1990;61:575.
Levokvic V, Klokkevold P, Camargo P, et al. Evaluation of periosteal
membranes and coronally positioned flaps in the treatment of class
II furcation defects: a comparative clinical study in humans. J Periodontol 1998;69:1050.
Mellonig JT. Autogenous and allogenic bone grafts in periodontal therapy. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 1992;3:333.
Pontoriero R, Lindhe J, Nyman S, et al. Guided tissue regeneration in
the treatment of furcation defects in man. J Clin Periodontol 1987;
14:619.
191
96
Application of Bone Fill Regenerative Procedures

A number of procedures have proven to be clinically successful in

the treatment of intrabony defects with a bone fill-regeneration
approach. They are as follows:
1.
Extraoral autogenous bone graft: Sites such as the iliac crest,

even though of high osteogenic potential, have limited
application because of complexities involved in performing
an additional surgical procedure outside the mouth.
2.
Intraoral autogenous bone graft: This is the primary

source of bone fill material. The main limitation of this
technique is the amount of bone available to be used for
donation. Areas that can be used as sources are retromolar regions, healed extraction sockets, and mandibular tori
and exostoses.
3.
Freeze-dried bone (FDB) and decalcified freeze-dried bone

(DFDB) allografts: These are substitutes for autogenous
bone that ensure sufficient volume of the graft material.
Donor screening and graft processing make the risk of disease transmission essentially zero.
4.
Xenografts: Bovine porous bone mineral (BPBM) is a graft

material prepared by protein extraction of bovine bone that
results in a trabecular structure of hydroxyapatite (HA)
similar to human cancellous bone and that has the ability
to enhance bone formation.
5.
Synthetic bone substitutes: HA is the most popular example

of this category. Although it facilitates bone formation, it is
not predictable in stimulating new cementum formation.
6.
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR): This technique uses

either nonabsorbable membranes made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) or absorbable membranes
made of polylactic acid, collagen, glycolide and lactide polymers, or calcium sulfate. GTR has been shown to result in
true restoration of the periodontal unit including the formation of new cementum.
7.
192
Growth factors: Recently, there has been interest in examining the role played by growth factors in periodontal regeneration. Most of these agents are still in their developmental
and testing stages. Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) is a
product that contains proteins derived from porcine enamel
that have been shown to be important in the development
of the dental organ including the formation of cementum,
periodontal ligament (PDL), and aveolar bone. Of all growth
factors being studied, EMD is the only one that is commercially available and has been shown to be effective in periodontal regenerative procedures. Autologous platelet-rich
plasma (PRP) is a blood preparation that contains high concentrations of transforming growth factor- (TGF-) and
platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). TGF- and PDGF
have been shown to increase proliferation and differentiation of PDL cells in vitro. Since this preparation is derived
from the patients own blood, it is available for current use.
Although PRP has shown promise in promoting periodontal
regeneration, more clinical trials are necessary to confirm its

effectiveness and substantiate its indications for use.
8.
Combination techniques: The combination of two or more

of the materials and techniques listed above has been shown
to be at least as effective, and, in most instances, superior to
any materials or techniques used alone. A general summary
of the research done in regenerative procedures utilizing
two or more materials and/or techniques indicates that the
combination of a graft material with GTR and/or EMD will
result in the most favorable postsurgical outcomes.
The presence of a furcation invasion is based on exploring

the furcation area on clinical examination with a curved
(Nabers) periodontal probe and radiographic evaluation.
An early Class II furcation can be treated by osseous resective

surgery combined with apical displacement of the soft tissues. A moderate or advanced Class II furcation invasion can
be treated with an intraoral autograft if enough material is
available, with FDB or DFDB, with BPBM, or with HA. The
combination of GTR with one of the osseous grafts described
above has been shown to result in the most favorable postsurgical outcome, particularly with regard to bone fill.
A Class III furcation invasion is difficult to resolve with bone

fill regenerative procedures. Procedures employing bone
grafts and GTR do not provide the clinician with predictable
bone fill regeneration results in Class III furcation invasions.
Consideration should be given to the creation of a tunnel,
hemisection, root amputation, and tooth extraction.
Shallow (< 2 mm) intrabony defects can be treated with

osseous resection combined with apical positioning of the
soft tissue. Resective therapy is indicated as long as it does
not result in bone removal in furcation areas and it does not
require excessive ostectomy resulting in tooth mobility.
Bone fill regenerative therapy for deeper (> 3 mm) intrabony defects is dictated by the geometry of the lesion. As a
general rule, success in bone fill regeneration procedures is
directly related to the bone surface surrounding the defect
and inversely proportional to the root surface present in the
defect area. Also, narrow defects are more suitable to bone
fill regenerative procedures than wide defects because graft
retention is facilitated. The graft materials of choice are
autografts, FDB/DFDB allografts, BPBM, or HA. Combining
GTR with osseous grafts may not be as advantageous as it is
in furcations, but may aid in graft retention in wider defects.
EMD will also have its most efficacious results if combined
with an osseous graft or with GTR plus an osseous graft.
If an autograft site is available, compatibility and cost of the

graft materials will be best. If not, allographic bone, xenograft
bone, or an alloplast must suffice.
Many resorbable materials are available for use in GTR.

They include the following: polylactic acid, collagen, glycolide and lactide polymers, and calcium sulfate. The only
Patient with an OSSEOUS DEFECT and > 5 mm POCKET DEPTH AFTER INITIAL THERAPY
Determine: Presence of furcation involvement or intrabony defect after flap and degranulation
Furcation defect
Intrabony defect
Determine: Class of furcation
Class II
Assess:
Horizontal depth of furcation
< 3 mm
penetration
OSSEOUS
RESECTION
Apically positioned
flap (APF)
Determine: Depth of osseous defect
Class III
TUNNEL, HEMISECTION,
ROOT AMPUTATION, or
EXTRACTION
< 2 mm deep
> 3 mm deep
OSSEOUS
RESECTION
APF
Assess:
Defect characteristics
> 3 mm
penetration
Narrow defect with walls

adequate to retain graft
Wide defect with inadequate

walls to retain graft
GRAFT
GTR
GRAFT
GRAFT and GTR
GRAFT and EMD
GRAFT, EMD, and GTR
GRAFT and GTR

or
GTR and EMD
plus GRAFT
Assess: Availability of a donor site
Intraoral site available
AUTOGRAFT
No suitable intraoral site available
ALLOGRAFT, XENOGRAFT, or ALLOPLAST
G Select: resorbable or removable barrier
Resorbable (polylactic acid, collagen, glycolide

and lactide polymers, calcium sulfate)
Removable (ePTFE)
PLACE SELECTED GRAFT and GTR (EMD) MATERIALS
available removable membranes at this time are made of

ePTFE. The practitioner must select the combination that
experience indicates has the best success.
Additional Readings
Camargo PM, Lekovic V, Weinlaender M, et al. A controlled reentry study
on the effectiveness of bovine porous bone mineral used in combination with a collagen membrane of porcine origin in the treatment
of intrabony defects in humans. J Clin Periodontol 2000;27:889.
Lekovic V, Camargo PM, Weinlaender M, et al. The effectiveness of
bovine porous bone mineral in combination with enamel matrix
proteins or with an autologous fibrinogen/fibronectin system in
the treatment of intrabony defects in humans: a reentry study of

twenty-four cases. J Clin Periodontol 2001;72:115763.
Garrett S. Periodontal regeneration around natural teeth. In: Newman
MG, editor. Annals of periodontology. Vol 1. Chicago: American
Academy of Periodontology; 1996. p. 621.
Lekovic V, Camargo PM, Weinlaender M, et al. A comparison between
enamel matrix proteins used alone or in combination with bovine
porous bone mineral in the treatment of intrabony defects in
humans. J Periodontol 2000;71:110.
Lekovic V, Camargo PM, Weinlaender M, et al. Combination use of
bovine porous bone mineral, enamel matrix proteins, and a bioabsorbable membrane in intrabony periodontal defects in humans.
193
97
Reevaluation after a Bone Fill Regenerative Procedure

Periodontal regeneration includes the following: regeneration of

lost supporting periodontal tissues including bone, development
of new cementum in the treated area, and creation of a new
attachment periodontal ligament (PDL). Bone fill means the clinical restoration of bone tissue in the treated periodontal defect.
Bone fill does not evaluate the presence or absence of histologic
evidence of true periodontal regeneration; therefore, bone fill can
be evaluated clinically and radiographically, whereas periodontal
regeneration can be evaluated histologically only. At 12 months
postsurgery, clinical pocket depths and attachment levels can be
compared with original values to determine success. New radiographs, taken in as similar a manner as possible, can be compared with the presurgical ones as an additional measurement of
success. Depending upon these comparisons, a choice among
maintenance, a resective surgical procedure, or a repeat bone fill
guided tissue regeneration (GTR) procedure can be made.
A
Clinical measurements and subjective evaluations and new

radiographs must be made and compared with the presurgical data.
If minimal pocket depths and other clinical findings and

new radiographs indicate new bone filling the defect, the
patient can be placed on regular maintenance (usually at 3to 4-month intervals) for a year and then placed on a
schedule based upon varying oral hygiene achievement
levels over the long term.
194
If residual pocket depth is detected and/or a residual defect

remains visible on radiographs, a decision for maintenance
or further surgery, usually osseous resection, must be
made. If pockets are less than 4 mm in depth, maintenance
is a justifiable choice. If pockets are greater than 5 mm in
depth, osseous resection should be considered to improve
the outcome.
If residual pocket depths are little changed from the initial

ones and/or radiographic evaluation shows little improvement, the practitioner should consider repeating the bone
fill GTR procedure.
Additional Readings
Garrett S. Periodontal regeneration around natural teeth. In: Newman
M, editor. Annals of periodontology. Vol 1. Chicago: American
Academy of Periodontology; 1966. p. 621.
Lekovic V, Klokkevold P, Camargo P, et al. Evaluation of periosteal membranes and coronally positioned flaps in the treatment of Class II
furcation defects: a comparative clinical study in humans. J Periodontol 1998;69:1050.
Poptoriero R, Lindhe J, Nyman S. Guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of furcation defects in man. J Clin Periodontol 1987;14:619.
Patient for REEVALUATION 1 YEAR AFTER A BONE FILL REGENERATION PROCEDURE
Minimal pocket depth, no or

minimal radiographic defect
MAINTENANCE
Determine:
Adequacy of results 12 months postsurgery
clinically and radiographically
Residual pocket depth, residual

radiographic defect
< 4 mm depth
> 5 mm depth
MAINTENANCE
OSSEOUS RESECTION
Pocket depths similar to

initial ones, radiographic
defect similar to original
Repeat BONE
FILL GTR
195
98
Guided Tissue Regeneration in Three-Walled Osseous Defects

Of all the bone defects created by periodontal disease, the threewalled defect has the highest predictability of successful regeneration. A three-walled defect is delimited by three bony walls:
buccal, mesial or distal, and lingual. The fourth wall is always
the surface of the root of the tooth. Radiographic examination
and periodontal probing help to diagnose a three-walled defect;
two different osseous levels at the same siteone parallel to the
pattern to bone level and the other aiming toward the apex of
the rootsuggest a three-walled defect. Probings on a possible
three-walled defect are shallow at the line angles and deep in
the interproximal area under the contact.
A
If the defect is shallow (1 or 2 mm deep) and wide, possible

approaches include an apically positioned flap (APF) with
osseous recontouring of the architecture or an open flap
dbridement.
If the defect is deep and wide with deep surrounding

vestibular depth, perform guided tissue regeneration
(GTR). Choose the wraparound configuration that best covers the defect, overlapping 2 to 3 mm over the osseous
walls. An autograft or allograft of autogenous bone is sometimes used. Denudation with secondary intention healing
may be useful with narrow defects.
196
If the defect is deep with shallow surrounding vestibular

depth, perform GTR. Choose the wraparound configuration that best covers the defect, overlapping 2 to 3 mm
over the osseous walls. An autograft or allograft of autogenous bone may be used so that the gingival tissue does not
push the GTR membrane into the defect because this
would not allow enough space for the regenerative tissue
to form. Denudation with secondary intention healing is a
less satisfactory alternative. Extraction of the tooth may be

necessary if the restorative plan is extensive and the prognosis of the tooth cannot be improved using other treatment methods. Extraction may be necessary if the threewalled defect totally surrounds the four surfaces of the
tooth and trauma from occlusion cannot be controlled.
The most critical factor in obtaining maximum results with
GTR is the availability of good access for root dbridement. The
periodontal membrane used should not be allowed to collapse
into the defect, and with this in mind the sutures and surrounding (hard and soft) tissues-to-membrane relationships
must be managed. The flap should be elevated so that no tension occurs at the time of closure; either vertically releasing incisions or extending two teeth to each side of the treated area is
recommended for this purpose.
Additional Readings
Becker W, Becker B, Berg L, Sansom O. Clinical and volumetric analysis of three-walled intrabony defects following open flap dbridement. J Periodontol 1986;57:277.
Becker W, Becker B, Berg L, et al. New attachment after treatment with
root isolation procedures: report for treated Class III and Class II
furcations and vertical defects. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent
1988;8:9.
Carranza FA, Newman MG. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. p. 626.
Gottlow J, Nyman S, Karring T, Wennstrom J. New attachment formation in human periodontium by guided tissue regeneration. J Periodontol 1986;57:727.
Shallhorn RC, McClain PR. Combined osseous composite grafting, root
Patient with a THREE-WALLED OSSEOUS DEFECT
Determine:
Architecture of the defect
Shallow defect
(APF or OPEN
DBRIDEMENT)
Deep defect
Assess:
Character of vestibular depth
Deep vestibule
GTR (or BONE

GRAFTING or
DENUDATION)
Shallow vestibule
GTR with
BONE GRAFT
(or DENUDATION
or EXTRACTION)
197
99
One-Walled Osseous Defect

Walter B. Hall
A one-walled osseous defect may be detected by careful probing

and evaluation of radiographs. Radiographs alone are not sufficient to diagnose such defects, but in conjunction with careful
probing they are helpful in conceptualizing them (Figures 99-1
and 99-2). The one osseous wall of such a defect always supports the adjacent tooth; therefore, the interproximal pocket
depth on the affected tooth is several millimeters deeper than
that on the adjacent tooth. Probing does not indicate less bone
loss at the line angles of the affected tooth than it does interproximally (as is the case with a three-walled defect).
A
A tooth with a one-walled defect may be an essential tooth

or it may not be important to a treatment plan for the
patient. For example, canine teeth usually are essential to
restorative treatment plans; therefore, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) should be employed to improve a canine
tooths support. A less important tooth such as a maxillary
lateral incisor may be sacrificed if it is not important to the
restorative plan; however, the use of extensive guided tissue procedures, if successful, may make extensive restorative plans unnecessary. The treatment plan that the dentist
and patient agree on determines whether a tooth is essential and GTR should be employed.
After deciding that a tooth is not essential, the dentist should
assess the risk to adjacent teeth in keeping the badly
involved tooth. If good abutments on adjacent teeth are
Figure 99-1 A hemiseptum in half of an interdental septum. The bone

remaining against the adjacent, less-involved tooth constitutes the one
remaining osseous wall.
198
available, or the affected tooth may easily be replaced with

a removable device, extraction of that tooth often is the best
approach. A patient who has decided to retain the tooth
should be made aware of the need for frequent planing and
of the signs and symptoms of a periodontal abscess so that
immediate dental treatment may be sought if they appear.
C
If the affected tooth jeopardizes adjacent teeth that are

potentially good abutments, it should be extracted. If the
adjacent teeth are themselves potentially poor abutments,
GTR should be employed.
If the tooth with the one-walled osseous defect is an essential tooth (eg, a canine), the depth of the defect is important
in deciding among treatment alternatives.
For essential teeth with shallow-to-moderate one-walled

defects (ie, 1 mm from osseous crest to maximal depth),
osseous resection on the adjacent tooth or teeth is a reasonable approach to eliminating the defect. The importance
of the adjacent tooth may be such that removing any bone
from its support creates a greater overall problem (eg, if the
tooth is an abutment for an existing bridge). GTR should be
employed.
If the one-walled defect on an essential tooth is a deep one

(4 mm or more), GTR should be employed.
Figure 99-2 A one-walled defect (hemiseptum) on the mesial side of

the first molar.
Patient with a ONE-WALLED OSSEOUS DEFECT
A Determine:
Treatment plan
Affected tooth
not essential
Assess:
Risk to adjacent teeth
No risk to
adjacent teeth
EXTRACT
Affected tooth
essential
MAINTENANCE
Risk to
adjacent teeth
Good
abutment
teeth
Poor
abutment
teeth
EXTRACT
GTR
Determine:
Depth of defect
Shallow-tomoderate defect
OSSEOUS
RESECTION
Deep defect
GTR
Additional Readings
Heins PS. Osseous surgery: an evaluation after twenty-five years. Dent
Nevins M, Mellonig JT. Periodontal therapy: clinical approaches and evidence of success. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1998. p. 255.
Ochsenbein C. Rationale for periodontal osseous surgery. Dent Clin

North Am 1960;4:27.
Febiger; 1990. p. 522.
199
100
Treating a Crater-Type Two-Walled Osseous Defect

Walter B. Hall
A two-walled osseous defect may be detected by careful probing

and evaluation of radiographs. The most common two-walled
defects are craters composed of the facial and lingual cortical
plates (Figures 100-1 and 100-2). Craters are easily misinterpreted on radiographs. Superimposed cortical plates often hide
defects. Slight angulation changes may suggest two-walled
defects when none are present. Careful probing, however,
allows the detection of interproximal defects of similar depth on
adjacent teeth and shallow readings at all line angles in areas in
which the cortical plates have not been resorbed. A less common two-walled defect is the noncrater type, occurring when
one cortical plate has been resorbed but the other remains with
an osseous wall against one of the adjacent teeth. Radiographs
may only suggest such defects. Probing may detect a shallow

depth on one tooth and more depth on the other, with no shallow depth on one line angle of the affected tooth.
A
The more common two-walled osseous defects in which

both cortical plates remain may be divided into those of
shallow-to-moderate depth (ie, 13 mm from osseous crest
to maximal depth) and those that are deeper.
Shallow-to-moderate defects are readily eliminated by

osseous resection with minimal removal of facial and lingual
bone on adjacent teeth. This provides the advantage of ease of
access for cleaning by the patient or dentist compared with
alternative procedures, in which cleaning to the bottom of the
pockets with oral hygiene devices is impossible, and instrumentation at the angles at which the cortical plates meet the
floor of the defects is difficult or impossible to achieve.
Deep defects are not good candidates for osseous resection

because too much facial and lingual bone must be sacrificed
to achieve positive architecture. Uninvolved furcations in
molar teeth may be treated using this process. Deep craters
are amenable to guided tissue regeneration (GTR). If GTR is
possible, and the patient is willing to undergo such surgery,
it is a predictable means of building back lost attachment
and minimizing or eliminating Class II furcation involvements. Successful GTR is the least expensive and most readily maintainable approach to managing the problems of
deep craters.
Figure 100-1 A crater is a two-walled infrabony defect in which facial

and lingual cortical plates remain as the two osseous walls.
GTR is not feasible in all deep crater situations. If the roots of

the adjacent involved teeth are only 1 to 2 mm apart, a root
proximity problem may make barrier design impossible
because the isthmus portion will be too narrow to act as an
effective epithelial barrier. A resorbable membrane can
greatly improve prospects for regeneration in these cases. In
such a case, extraction of the most badly involved tooth is a
sound approach if good abutments remain or an implant is
feasible. If either of the adjacent teeth has a Class III (through
and through) furcation involvement, extraction of the
involved tooth is a good approach if satisfactory abutments
remain or an implant is feasible. Alternatively, root resection
may be employed, possibly with GTR, if poor abutments
would remain if extraction were to be used. Maintenance of
a hopeless situation may be a necessary last resort.
Figure 100-2 Two-walled infrabony defect (crater).
If the patient is unable or unwilling to proceed with these

approaches, either one tooth may be extracted or the area may
be maintained with a hopeless prognosis.
200
Patient with a CRATER
Confirm:
Defect is a crater with facial and
lingual cortical plates remaining
A Determine:
Depth of defect
Shallow-tomoderate defect
OSSEOUS
RESECTION
Deep defect
Determine:
Whether defect is a candidate for GTR
Maintenance
GTR possible
GTR not
feasible
GTR
Root proximity
Class III
furcation
involved
Patient
not able
or willing
Determine:
Adequacy of potential abutments
Good abutments
would remain
EXTRACT BADLY
INVOLVED TOOTH;
replace with bridge
EXTRACT
ONE
TOOTH
Poor abutments
would remain
EXTRACT BADLY
INVOLVED TOOTH;
replace with implant
Maintenance
EXTRACT
ONE
TOOTH
Additional Readings
Ochsenbein C, Bohannon HM. Palatal approach to osseous surgery. I.
Rationale. J Periodontol 1960;34:60.
Ochsenbein C, Bohannon HM. Palatal approach to osseous surgery. II.

Clinical application. J Periodontol 1961;35:54.
Febiger; 1990. p. 513.
201
101
Treating a Three-Walled Osseous Defect

Walter B. Hall
A three-walled osseous defect is detected best by careful probing; however, radiographs often are useful in suggesting the
presence of such defects (Figures 101-1 and 101-2). An interproximal three-walled defect has a deep interproximal reading
with shallow facial and lingual readings at line angles in which
cortical plates remain intact. The interproximal depth on any
adjacent teeth also is shallow. Palatal three-walled defects elicit
a deep reading with shallower readings on both sides. If the
palate is flat, the presence of a third wall palatally may be
assumed. In other areas, sounding (probing to bone with
anesthetic) may be necessary to detect a third wall situated
Figure 101-1 A wide, three-walled infrabony defect amenable to

guided tissue regeneration.
Figure 101-2 A three-walled infrabony defect mesial to the premolar.
202
away from the tooth. Despite their depth, many three-walled

defects are amenable to regenerative procedures.
A
Because such defects often occur on an endodontically

involved tooth or a cracked tooth, testing to ensure that
these problems do not coexist is necessary before proceeding with periodontal treatment (see Chapter 35). If the
tooth is endodontically involved, but does not have a long
vertical crack, endodontics should be used and the periodontal status reassessed after an appropriate interval. If
endodontics cannot be performed, extract the tooth. If a
vertical crack is present and is extensive, the tooth should
be extracted or maintained with a hopeless prognosis.
Narrow defectsones in which the crest of the bone is 1 mm

or less from the tooth horizontally at the widest point of the
coronal aspect of the defectare treated with predictable
success by complete dbridement and readaptation of the
flap to cover the defect. Such regenerative osseous procedures are among the most successful means of adding lost
support to a tooth. Such surgery therefore is far preferable to
attempts to maintain such areas in which curets cannot be
placed or manipulated easily. Regenerative procedures in the
case of narrow, three-walled defects (< 1 mm from tooth to
crest of bone horizontally) have a very high predictability of
successful regeneration with new attachment.
Shallow three-walled defects (ie, 12 mm deep) are

amenable to osseous resection for pocket elimination.
Some moderately deep, wide, three-walled defects
(23 mm deep) may be treated by eliminating the wider
three-walled portion by osseous resection and treating the
deeper, narrow portion as a narrow defect in which new
attachment is predictable.
Wide, deep, three-walled osseous defects are excellent candidates for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) (see Chapter
98). So strong is the likelihood of regeneration with new
attachment that GTR always should be emphasized as the
treatment of choice. Numerous three-walled defects on the
distal of second molars have been treated through extraction of an impacted or partially erupted third molar that lay
close to the root of the second molar. These are among the
most predictably successful situations in which to employ
GTR. Similar defects on isolated abutment teeth may routinely be treated with GTR. Palatal three-walled defects also
have high predictability for successful restoration of support
by GTR. Because this approach is highly predictable and
inexpensive compared with alternatives such as maintenance and extraction and replacement with a bridge or
implant, GTR should be employed routinely for treating
deep, wide, three-walled defects.
Patient with THREE-WALLED OSSEOUS DEFECT
Determine:
Whether endodontic problem
or cracked tooth exists
Determine:
Size of defect
Narrow defect
Endodontic problem
Moderate-towide defect
Root canal
therapy
EXTRACT
Cracked tooth
Maintenance
EXTRACT
REGENERATIVE
PROCEDURE
(Prichard)
Shallow,
wide defect
Shallow-to-moderate
wide defect with
narrow apical portion
OSSEOUS
RESECTION
OSSEOUS RESECTION
and REGENERATIVE
PROCEDURE (Prichard)
Deep, wide
defect
GTR
Additional Readings
Becker W et al. New attachment after treatment with root isolation procedures: report for treated Class III and Class II furcations and vertical defects. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1988;3:9.
Gottlow J et al. New attachment formation in human periodontics by
guided tissue regeneration. J Periodontol 1986;57:727.
Prichard JF. The infrabony technique as a predictable procedure. J Periodontol 1957;28:202.
Schallhorn RG, McClain PK. Combined osseous composite grafting, root
203
102
Approaches to Retromolar Defects

Treatment for retromolar inflammatory periodontal disease is

somewhat unique because of tissue type (gingiva versus
mucosa), accessibility (often limited), and surgical anatomy
(may limit options). Initial therapy for these areas should
include oral hygiene instructions, closed dbridement, and control of secondary etiologic factors followed by a reevaluation. If
initial therapy fails to control the inflammatory periodontal condition, then surgical therapy must be considered.
A
204
Treatment planning for retromolar defects should consider

the nature of the defect. Gingival defects (no bone loss or
apical migration of the junctional epithelium) and
suprabony defects (horizontal bone loss) are generally
addressed differently from infrabony defects (vertical bone
loss). Deeper infrabony defects (34 mm) may be treatable
with regeneration techniques, whereas suprabony, shallow
infrabony, and gingival defects generally are not.
The type of soft tissue can influence the treatment of retromolar defects. If the tissue is gingiva (often seen in maxilla),
and the osseous contours are satisfactory, then a gingivectomy or a flap approach can be considered to allow
improved access for dbridement. If the tissue is mucosa
(often seen in the mandible), then a flap approach is appropriate using a wedge procedure. The type of incision (linear
incision versus trolley incision) for the flap will vary with
the tissue type, difficulty of access, and goal of the procedure. Triangular incisions are preferable for the mandible
and trolley incisions for the maxilla. Once surgical access
is achieved, the bone contours should be evaluated.
Satisfactory osseous contours are those that are gradual

enough to allow satisfactory postsurgical soft tissue adaptation in order that pocketing can be adequately reduced. If
the osseous contours are satisfactory, then surgical dbridement alone is adequate. If unsatisfactory osseous contours
exist, and they are too shallow to make regeneration predictable, then osseous resection should be considered.
Common anatomic considerations for the maxilla include
the position of the maxillary sinus, the shape of the palatal
vault, and the length of the tuberosity. These could limit
access or the extent of osseous resection. Common limiting
anatomic considerations for the mandible include the
external oblique ridge and the anterior border of the ramus.
For infrabony defects that are deeper than 3 to 4 mm,

regeneration should be considered as an alternative to
dbridement and osseous resection. Favorable conditions
for regeneration can include patient factors (healthy, well
motivated, nonsmoker), defect type (three-walled defect is
most predictable), and lack of tooth mobility. Regeneration
procedures can include the use of bone grafts, membranes,
and growth factors (eg, Emdogain, bone morphogenetic
proteins, platelet rich plasma)singly or in combination.
Generally, a linear distal incision is preferred when regeneration is attempted.
Additional Readings
Patient with a RETROMOLAR DEFECT IN NEED OF TREATMENT
Gingival
Determine:
Type of periodontal defect
Suprabony
Mucosa
Assess:
Nature of osseous contours
Satisfactory
osseous
contour
Unsatisfactory
osseous
contour
Gingivectomy or
flap approach
Flap approach
Dbridement
only
Determine:
Type of tissue involved: gingiva or mucosa
Gingiva
Shallow infrabony
Dbridement
with osseous
resection
Determine:
Flap approach or not
depending on contours
Satisfactory
osseous
contour
Unsatisfactory
osseous
contour
Dbridement
only
Dbridement
with osseous
resection
Deep infrabony
Determine:
Type of flap approach for guided tissue
regeneration or not
Unfavorable
regeneration
conditions
Favorable
regeneration
conditions
Dbridement
with osseous
resection
Regeneration
procedure
205
103
Suturing Following Periodontal Surgery

Walter B. Hall
Many innovative types of sutures may be used to close periodontal surgical wounds; however, here only a small number of
suture techniques adequate for closing surgical sites are discussed. Mastery of these techniques permits the dentist to manage just about all contingencies. The type of suturing to be used
depends on the surgery performed.
A
For pure mucogingival procedures such as connective tissue grafts and free gingival grafts, simple interrupted
sutures usually are all that is required. Suturing in these
cases usually is done using 4.0 or 5.0 gut or 5.0 Ethibond
(braided Dacron-coated Teflon) suture material and a small,
round, malleable needle such as the V5 needle by Ethicon.
For mucogingival-osseous surgery, a wider armamentarium

of sutures is needed. Usually 4.0 black silk with a backcutting needle is used here.
For guided tissue regeneration (GTR) procedures in which

flaps are replaced in a more coronal position, simple inter-
rupted sutures approximating facial and lingual flaps at

each interdental papilla commonly are used.
D
For distal wedge or trapdoor procedures, surgical sites normally may be completely closed with one to several simple
interrupted sutures.
Ridgeplasty procedures always involve the use of simple

interrupted sutures. Occasionally, single-sling sutures
around abutment teeth are used as well. Such sutures also
may be used in extensive and posterior tooth procedures.
For apically positioned flap procedures in which only one to

three teeth are included, single-sling sutures (Figure 103-1)
are an excellent choice for use in approximating palatal or
lingual flaps close to the teeth at the level of the crest of
bone. On the facial flap, a single sling may be used as a suspensory suture; however, skillful architects of the osseous
form often use no sutures on the facial flap. If a full sextant
of teeth is treated by means of apically repositioned flaps, a
continuous-sling suture (see Figure 103-1) is the best
choice to adapt palatal and lingual flaps close to the teeth.
If the tissue is thin or needs to be stretched to gain full closure, a mattress type of continuous-sling suture may be
necessary. In routine cases a simple continuous sling suffices. The facial flap may be suspended with a single-sling
suture or, if well adapted, no sutures are needed.
When vertically releasing incisions are used to permit adequate reflection or positioning of a flap, simple interrupted
sutures are used to approximate the flap in its new position
in relation to adjacent tissue.
Additional Readings
Figure 103-1 Continuous or single-sling sutures may be used to close

posterior areas of mucogingival-osseous surgery.
206
Dahlberg. WH. Incisions and suturing: some basic considerations about

each in periodontal flap surgery. Dent Clin North Am 1969;13:149.
Lindhe. Textbook of clinical periodontology. 2nd ed. Copenhagen:
Newman MG, Takei HH, Carranza FA Jr. Carranzas clinical periodontology. 9th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2002. p. 76793.
Febiger; 1990. p. 479.
Patient for SUTURING FOLLOWING PERIODONTAL SURGERY
Consider:
Type of periodontal surgery performed
Extensiveness of surgery
PURE MUCOGINGIVAL
SURGERY
FREE GINGIVAL
GRAFTS
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFTS
Interrupted sutures
(silk or Ethibond)
Interrupted sutures
(gut for graft; then
silk or Ethibond)
(see Chapter 109)
DISTAL WEDGE
or TRAPDOOR
Alone
RIDGEPLASTY
As part of
an apically
positioned
flap
MUCOGINGIVAL-OSSEOUS
SURGERY
GTR
(see Chapter 79)
Other
Interrupted sutures
APICALLY
POSITIONED
FLAP
Vertical-releasing
incisions
Interrupted sutures
(silk or Ethibond)
One to
three teeth
Full
sextant
Interrupted sutures
(silk)
Palatal
or lingual
Single-sling
suture (silk)
Facial
Palatal
or lingual
None
Continuoussling sutures
(silk)
Simple
Facial
Single-sling
suture (silk)
None
Mattress
207
104
Dressing Following Surgery

Walter B. Hall
After completion of a segment of mucogingival surgery, the

dentist must decide which dressing if any should be placed in
the area. The purposes of dressings include better control of
postoperative bleeding, better patient comfort during eating,
and stabilization of loose teeth during early healing. The disadvantages of using dressings include compromised esthetics and
delay in healing after the first few postoperative days. Great
variability in determining the need for a dressing and choosing
the appropriate one exists. The following are conservative
guidelines that should work well for most dentists.
A
208
Anterior segments of mucogingival-osseous surgery may

present esthetic problems that should be considered in the
decision to dress the wound and the choice of dressings.
This is especially true in the maxillary anterior region.
Because these areas lend themselves to full closure and
suturing, not placing a dressing is a reasonable option. Placing a Stomahesive bandage that dissolves in 8 to 24 hours
(depending on the activity of the tongue against it) minimizes early postoperative bleeding and further stabilizes the
flaps. It is simple to place, requiring only a minute or two.
Mandibular anterior segments usually do not present
esthetic problems, but the mandibular incisors often are
quite mobile and have considerable bone loss; therefore,
Coe Pak or another nondissolvable pack often is a good
choice. If a mandibular anterior segment of mucogingivalosseous surgery may be completely closed with sutures and
the teeth have little mobility, Stomahesive bandage or even
no dressing may be sufficient; however, if closure is incomplete (leaving exposed areas) or mobility is significant, Coe
Pak or an alternative pack is preferable.
In posterior segments of mucogingival-osseous surgery, the
objectives of surgery and the scope of the area to be treated
vary more. Tuberosity or retromolar pad surgery may be
the only surgery to be performed in a posterior region.
Good closure of the flaps is attainable in these distal ridge
procedures if the procedure is done alone. A dressing may
be unnecessary, or a Stomahesive bandage may be used to

further stabilize the wound and minimize bleeding as healing begins. If a distal ridge procedure is performed as part of
surgery on adjacent posterior teeth, Coe Pak or an alternative pack usually is used.
D
Ridgeplasty and crown lengthening may be performed in

any part of the mouth, but they are performed more frequently as isolated procedures in posterior segments. In
anterior segments, they usually are dressed with Stomahesive bandage. In posterior segments, if good closure of the
flaps may be attained with sutures a Stomahesive bandage
or no dressing at all works well. If good closure cannot be
obtained (as under existing bridges), Coe Pak or an alternative is preferable. If adjacent areas are treated with the
ridgeplasty areas or if gingivectomy is used, Coe Pak or an
alternative is preferred.
In posterior segments, if the closure is incomplete, especially between molar teeth, Coe Pak or an alternative is preferred to control bleeding and stabilize the flaps. If pocketelimination surgery (apically positioned flap, gingivectomy)
is used in posterior segments, Coe Pak or an alternative is
preferred to minimize bleeding, help stabilize teeth, minimize initial sensitivity to temperature change, and improve
comfort in eating.
Additional Readings
Mosby; 1988. p. 731.
1984. p. 107.
ONeil TCA. Antibacterial properties of periodontal dressings. J Periodontol 1975;46:469.
Patient with COMPLETED SEGMENT OF MUCOGINGIVAL-OSSEOUS SURGERY
Determine:
Whether to perform guided tissue regeneration
GUIDED TISSUE
REGENERATION
No dressing
OTHER MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS SURGERY
Stomahesive
bandage
Consider:
Location in mouth
Type of surgical approach
Anterior
segment
Maxillary
Stomahesive
bandage
Posterior
segment
Mandibular
DISTAL
RIDGE
SURGERY
RIDGEPLASTY
or CROWN
LENGTHENING
Assess:
Degree of closure
Degree of mobility
None
FLAP with
GOOD CLOSURE
Complete
closure, little
mobility
Incomplete
closure, greater
mobility
Stomahesive
bandage
Stomahesive
bandage
None
Coe Pak or
alternative
Coe Pak or
alternative
None
Coe Pak or
alternative
Alone, good
closure
Stomahesive
bandage
Other areas
involved
Incomplete
closure
Gingivectomy
POCKETELIMINATION
PROCEDURE
None
Combined with
surgery in rest
of segment
Coe Pak or
alternative
209
105
Pharmacologic Management of Periodontic Pain

Mauricio Ronderos and Joseph Levy
Chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis are but rarely

associated with pain. In periodontics, the most frequent indications for pharmacologic pain management are the treatment of
postsurgical pain and pain from acute periodontal or mucosal
lesions (eg, necrotizing periodontal diseases, acute periodontal
abscess, herpetic gingivostomatitis). This chapter offers general
guidelines for the selection of oral analgesics in periodontics.
Clinicians should carefully review the patients medical history to assess contraindications or drug interactions that may
influence the protocol for management of periodontic pain.
In managing pain associated with acute periodontal or
mucosal lesions, begin by treating the cause. If the pain is secondary to a periodontal abscess or necrotizing periodontal disease, thorough dbridement and antibiotic therapy, if necessary,
are key to the prompt resolution of this pain. The frequent use of
topical anesthetics (eg, 2% viscous lidocaine solution), in addition
to oral analgesics, may give additional pain relief to patients with
aphthae, herpetic gingivostomatitis, or other ulcerative lesions.
It is important to prevent inflammation and to minimize
postsurgical pain. The use of atraumatic surgical techniques that
are minimally invasive, together with local cold packs or ice
during the first 24 hours after surgery, is helpful to prevent
inflammation. Short-term use of steroid drugs, starting the day
prior to surgery, may keep to a minimum inflammation after
large autogenous bone grafting or other extensive surgical procedures. Local measures to protect the surgical site, including
surgical dressings and stents, minimize the postsurgical pain
from gingivectomies, soft-tissue grafting, or procedures where it
was not possible to completely close a flap. It is easier to prevent
pain than to eliminate it after onset. Therefore, analgesics
should be prescribed at fixed intervals (eg, every 6 hours) rather
than at patient-controlled intervals (ie, taken as needed). It is
useful to administer a long-acting local anesthetic (eg, etidocaine), immediately after the completion of a surgical procedure, for the control of pain while adequate blood levels of a
systemic analgesic are obtained.
A
210
This decision-making protocol is founded on the concept

that clinicians should be conservative in their initial selection of analgesics. Based on an assessment of pain severity
or invasiveness of the procedure performed, together with
the patients medical history, clinicians will select a pain
management protocol and escalate to higher dosages or
more powerful drugs if required (see Algorithm). As healing advances and pain subsides the clinician should consider safer medications.
Most patients report negligible or mild pain for 24 hours
after nonsurgical procedures that include scaling and root
planing. The pain associated with acute periodontal lesions
and periodontal surgical procedures, including osseous
surgery, mucogingival surgery, guided tissue regeneration,
small bone grafts, and implant placement, is generally mild
to moderate. Postsurgical pain usually lasts for 3 to 4 days

and gradually subsides thereafter. Nevertheless, given the
same amount of tissue injury one person may experience
much more pain than another. Similar person-to-person
variability has been documented for the effectiveness of
analgesics. The patients self-report is the standard for
assessing severity of pain and the response of patients to
analgesics in clinical practice. To rate pain intensity patients
are asked to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 (with 0 representing no pain and 10 the worst possible pain). Ratings
between 1 and 3 are considered as mild pain, 4 to 7 as moderate, and 8 to 10 as severe. Such information is important
for clinical decision-making, and it should be documented
in the patient record.
B
Unless contraindicated, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs (NSAIDs) are the medications of choice for the management of pain that is mild to moderate. By blocking
prostaglandin synthesis, these medications reduce pain and
minimize inflammation. NSAIDs also inhibit platelet aggregation and, in high dosages, may increase the risk for postoperative bleeding. These medications should be avoided in
patients with recent history of gastrointestinal disease (bleeding or ulcers) or those receiving anticoagulants, and they
should be used with caution after surgical procedures where
there is a significant risk of postoperative bleeding (eg, freestanding soft-tissue grafts). The potency of NSAIDs is frequently underestimated. These drugs have been proven to be
as effective as a combination of weak opioids and acetaminophen in the management of pain after minor surgeries.
Furthermore, NSAIDs have fewer undesirable effects than do
analgesics acting on the central nervous system (CNS). In
patients with a mild to moderate risk of postoperative bleeding or treated gastrointestinal ulcers, cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox2) inhibitors, a new class of NSAIDs, should be preferred over
other NSAIDs. By selectively inhibiting the action of Cox-2,
these medications reduce pain and inflammation with minimum effect on platelet function and minimum risk for postoperative or gastrointestinal bleeding.
The management of mild-to-moderate pain in patients

where all NSAIDs are contraindicated starts by subdividing
them into those who report or are expected to have mild
pain and those with moderate pain. For the management of
pain after nonsurgical therapy and after minor surgical procedures, acetaminophen is the drug of choice. Acetaminophen does not affect platelet aggregation. However,
the analgesic effect of acetaminophen is not as potent as
that of NSAIDs, and it does not have anti-inflammatory
properties. For the management of moderate pain, the
combination of acetaminophen and centrally acting analgesics (eg, codeine, tramadol) is recommended.
Patient requiring PHARMACOLOGIC MANAGEMENT OF PERIODONTAL PAIN
Assess:
Pain intensity as reported by the patient or
expected pain according to the procedure
Mildmoderate pain
Most periodontal surgeries
Implant placement
Moderatesevere pain
Extensive osseous
resection
Large autogenous
bone grafting
Oxycodone + acetaminophen
Hydrocodone + acetaminophen
Tramadol + acetaminophen
No history of:
Coagulation disorders
Gastrointestinal ulcers
NSAID
(eg, ibuprofen)
History of:
Mild coagulopathies
Treated gastrointestinal
ulcers
Cox-2 inhibitors
(eg, rofecoxib)
Very severe pain

Intolerable,
intractable pain
Managed by specialist
Consider use of:
Meperidine
Morphine
Recent or untreated:
Coagulation disorders
Gastrointestinal ulcers
Mild pain
(eg, root planing,
limited surgery)
Acetaminophen
Moderate
pain
Codeine + acetaminophen
Tramadol + acetaminophen
Assess:
Pain control
Pain well controlled
Pain not controlled
Continue regimen
Consider:
Alternative sources of pain
Increasing dosage
More potent analgesic
Centrally acting drugs should only be used after surgical

procedures in which very extensive osseous resection is
performed or when peripherally acting analgesics have
failed. The addition of NSAIDs or acetaminophen to an opioid reduces the needed dosage of the opioid, thus reducing
its possible side effects (eg, respiratory depression, constipation). Tolerance and dependence are rare when mild opioids are used for short periods. Tramadol is a centrally acting non-narcotic synthetic opioid analgesic that is as potent
as many other oral opioids; tramadol has minimum cardiovascular side effects, does not result in respiratory depression, and minimizes the risk of dependency. This analgesic
is generally well tolerated and has relatively mild side

effects, that include nausea and dizziness.
E
Periodontal pathologies and surgical procedures rarely

result in pain that is intolerable. If despite adequate dosages
of analgesics the pain cannot be controlled, the presence of
some additional pathology should be considered (eg, pain
of endodontic origin, neuropathic pain). General dentists
should refer such cases to a specialist who will evaluate the
source of pain and may prescribe higher dosages of medications or short courses of strong opioids (eg, meperidine).
Such patients should be closely monitored.
211
106
Restoration Following Mucogingival-Osseous

or Regenerative Surgery
Walter B. Hall
The timing of restorations after periodontal surgery depends on

the types of treatment that have been done both presurgically
and surgically. A dentist treating a patient who has been
splinted presurgically generally speaking can wait longer before
deciding on permanent restorations than one treating a patient
who has not been splinted. If surgical procedures that have a
lower predictability of success have been used, for example,
guided tissue regeneration (GTR) or new attachment, a longer
time should be allowed before deciding on the restorative plan
than is allowed if a more definitive approach is employed.
A
212
If temporary or provisional splinting has been used before

periodontal surgery, the teeth involved usually are so loose
that the dentist has decided that splinting is necessary for
comfort and function during the surgical period. Provisional
splinting is done for as long as 2 years in cases that ultimately require extensive reconstruction and in which some
of the teeth have guarded prognoses. Temporary splinting
often is extracoronal (requiring a night guard or wire and
composite splint); in these cases, restorative decisions may
be made 3 months or more after the final surgery unless a
new attachment or bone regeneration approach is used, in
which case a 6-month wait is indicated. If intracoronal temporary or provisional splinting is used, a minimal waiting
period of 6 months after surgery before reevaluation is necessary. If the provisionally splinted case is extensive, a waiting period as long as 2 years after surgery may be indicated
before reevaluation and permanent restoration.
If a patient who has had mucogingival-osseous surgery and
has not required splinting also has had pocket-elimination
surgery (apically positioned flap with osseous recontouring

or gingivectomy), reevaluation before restoration may be
performed as early as 1 month after the final surgery. Healing after such surgery usually is completed quickly; however, if any significantly compromised teeth are evident,
reevaluation should be delayed until 3 to 6 months after
surgery so that a more reliable prognosis can be made.
C
If a new attachment procedure or GTR procedure has been

used, reevaluation before restoration should not be performed sooner than 6 months after the final surgery.
Restoration should be delayed in these cases until the longterm prognoses for these teeth are clearly established. With
new attachment and osseous regeneration approaches,
extensive, expensive restorations should not be placed
unless the teeth have a reasonable prognosis 6 months after
surgery.
Additional Readings
Nyman S, Lindhe J. A longitudinal study of combined periodontal and
prosthetic treatment of patients with advanced periodontal disease.
1990. p. 612.
Seibert JS, Cohen DW. Periodontal considerations in preparation for fixed
and removable prosthodontics. Dent Clin North Am 1987;31:529.
Patient with completed MUCOGINGIVAL-OSSEOUS or REGENERATIVE SURGERY
Consider:
Type of presurgical
splint procedure used
Temporarily or
provisionally
splinted
Temporary splint
Provisional splint
POCKETELIMINATION
SURGERY
Consider:
Location
Evaluate:
6 months or more
after surgery
Consider:
Long-term prognosis
Extracoronal
Intracoronal
Evaluate:
3 months or more after
surgery (longer after GTR
or other reattachment or
osseous fill procedure)
Evaluate:
6 months or more
after surgery
Compromised
Evaluate:
3 to 6 months
after surgery
Not splinted
RIDGEPLASTY
or CROWN
LENGTHENING
GTR, BONE FILL,

or other NEW
ATTACHMENT
PROCEDURE
Evaluate:
6 months or more
after surgery
Good prognosis
Evaluate:
1 month
after surgery
213
GINGIVAL AUGMENTATION
107 Dehiscence and Fenestration
Walter B. Hall
108 Free Gingival Graft Procedure
Walter B. Hall
109 Connective Tissue Graft versus Guided Tissue Regeneration
Walter B. Hall
110 Coronally Positioned Pedicle Graft
Craig Gainza
111 Coronally Positioned Pedicle Graft Using Emdogain
Walter B. Hall
112 Root Coverage in Cases of Localized Gingival Recession
Carlo Clauser, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, Pierpaolo Cortellini, and Francesco Cairo
113 Treatment of Multiple, Adjacent Gingival Recessions Using a Connective Tissue
Graft
Jon Zabalegui and Alberto Sicillia
114 Denudation
Walter B. Hall
115 Ridge Augmentation
Walter B. Hall
116 Dressing Following Pure Mucogingival Surgery
Walter B. Hall
117 Restoration Following Pure Mucogingival Surgery
Walter B. Hall
PART 11 Surgical Treatment: Gingival Augmentation
107
Dehiscence and Fenestration

Walter B. Hall
If a tooth is in a prominent position in the arch, its root may not

have bone covering its facial or lingual surface to the normal
height, which is 1 to 1.5 mm from the cementoenamel junction
(CEJ) (Figure 107-1). The term dehiscence refers to the bursting
through bone of a root as the tooth erupts so that the bone does
not extend to its normal proximity to the CEJ. The term fenestration refers to a circumscribed defect that creates a window
through the bone over the prominent root. Perhaps too much
effort is expended in differentiating between the two because the
consequences of having a thin bridge of cortical bone coronal
to the circumscribed defect (a fenestration) and not having that
bone (a dehiscence) is of little clinical consequence. True, that
bone must be resorbed before loss of attachment may occur, but
the ease with which the thin bridge of bone may be destroyed by
inflammation makes its existence of little consequence. Various
tests may be used to determine which condition is present and
the possible therapeutic implications.
A
Radiographs are not useful in detecting or differentiating

between these two bone defects. Because the defect overlies the root in the radiograph, it cannot be seen on typical
films.
The simplest test, but one that requires considerable experience, is to run a finger over the prominent root in apicocoronal and mesiodistal directions. The crest of the bone at
the apical extent of the defect often may be felt, as may the
lateral borders. As the finger is moved coronally, the
bridge of bone may be felt at the coronal aspect of a fenestration but not in the coronal portion of a dehiscence.
C
Probing is of limited usefulness, but may be important in

planning treatment. A fenestration cannot be probed. A
dehiscence may be probed if attachment has been lost, but
it cannot be probed if attachment to the root is intact.
Sounding, which means pushing the probe through the

anesthetized soft tissue over the root (see Figure 107-1),
may be used to differentiate between the two types of
defects. If an apparent fenestration or dehiscence has been
located digitally, the probe is positioned over the defect and
pressed into contact with the tooth. The sensation transmitted to the dentist on touching the tooth rather than
bone is a quick, sharp, or solid one, whereas bone
gives a mushy or softer sensation. If the sensation is one of
touching the tooth, the probe is moved halfway to the free
margin and is pressed through the soft tissue. If bone is
touched, the defect is a fenestration; if not, it probably will
prove to be a dehiscence.
The clinical importance of these determinations relates to

the consequences of raising a flap or preparing a receptor
bed for a gingival graft. If the defect is a fenestration, soft
tissue is capable of reattaching to the exposed surface
with high predictability. If the defect is a dehiscence, reattachment to the level of the most apical aspect of the
pocket or crevice depth also is likely to be successful. If the
root has been exposed by inflammatory periodontal disease, only a new attachment may occur where attachment
has been lost.
Additional Readings
Figure 107-1 A dehiscence is a bursting through of bone of the

tooth root, whereas a fenestration is a window in the bone.
214
Elliott JR, Bowers GM. Alveolar dehiscence and fenestration. Periodontics 1963;1:245.
Hall WB. Present status of soft-tissue grafting. J Periodontol 1977;48:587.
1984. p. 36.
Patients tooth with a PROMINENT ROOT AND SOME MISSING BONE OVER IT
Dehiscence
Defect cannot
be detected
Radiography
Defect cannot
be detected
Fenestration
Dehiscence
Cannot feel bone

coronal to where
the root can be felt
Fingertip test
Can feel bone bridge

remaining coronal
to where the root
can be felt
Fenestration
Some
dehiscences
Can probe to
apical extent
of defect
Probing
Cannot probe to
apical extent of
defect
Dehiscence
Cannot sound to
bone coronal to
where can sound
to tooth
Sounding
Can sound to bone

coronal to where
can sound to tooth
Some
dehiscences
Root exposed
by disease; new
attachment
occurs routinely
only with
guided tissue
regeneration
or connective
tissue graft
When exposed
surgically,
can expect
reattachment
Should occur
routinely
Fenestration
Some
dehiscences
Fenestration
Fenestration
Some
dehiscences
215
108
Free Gingival Graft Procedure

Walter B. Hall
The free gingival graft is perhaps the most predictable periodontal surgical procedure. The indications for its use have been
described (see Chapters 44 and 45). The relative ease of mastering this technique and the mystique of plastic surgical procedures
have led to more widespread use of the procedure than some
clinicians believe is merited. This surgical procedure, nevertheless, has many important uses: to prevent or control loss of
attachment (LOA) resulting from recession, to prevent or control
esthetic problems, and to permit restorative or orthodontic treatment without iatrogenic root exposure (LOA). If a patient has a
problem of minimal attached gingiva, with or without recession,
and the dentist and patient agree that treatment is indicated, a
series of decisions is needed before proceeding with this surgery.
A
cementoenamel junction (CEJ). More apically, separate the

alveolar mucosa from the gingiva by an incision immediately coronal to the CEJ and reflect apically to expose a
5- to 6-mm bed. Should the root coverage fail, an adequate
band of attached gingiva will have been created to minimize the likelihood of further recession (Figure 108-1).
C
If root coverage is not a goal, prepare the receptor bed with

an incision slightly coronal to the mucogingival junction.
Expose a bed 5 to 6 mm in height by reflecting the alveolar
mucosa with a periosteal elevator. Make a periosteal fenestration at the apical extent of the bed to ensure that the
graft is not mobile (Figure 108-2).
Whether root coverage is a goal determines the way the

receptor site is prepared. If root exposure has not occurred,
the technique is performed one way. If root exposure has
occurred, root coverage may become the goal if there are
esthetic or restorative indications. Both a connective tissue
graft (see Chapter 109) and guided tissue regeneration (see
Chapter 88) are better means of successfully covering
exposed roots, but some minimal recession may be managed with a free gingival graft. Most often these indications
are present in maxillary anterior and maxillary premolar
areas. Some teeth need more attached gingiva, whereas
adjacent teeth may require root coverage. Modify the surgical procedure to meet these individual needs.
A combination approach may be indicated if only a singular

tooth with a segment to be grafted requires root coverage.
If root coverage is to be performed, reduce the prominent

root with a back-action chisel so that hemorrhage does not
pool peripherally. Reduce the root to keep the dentin free
of bacteria and endotoxin. The reduced dimension of the
root makes new attachment more likely to occur.
After the graft is taken, if root coverage is the goal, suture

the graft, stretching tightly between the de-epitheliated
papillae with interrupted or single-sling sutures. If root coverage is not going to be attempted, use single, interrupted
sutures in the area of each papilla to stabilize the graft.
If root coverage is to be attempted, remove all sulcus

epithelium and skim the superficial epithelium and connective tissue from adjacent papillae to the level of the
After the graft is placed, apply pressure with wet gauze for
3 to 4 minutes, place a Stomahesive bandage, and instruct
on ways to avoid disturbing the graft.
Figure 108-1 A, Obtaining anesthesia in an area

in which a free gingival graft is used with root
coverage as a goal. B, Preparation of the receptor
site. C, Obtaining donor tissue from the palate.
D, Free gingival graft sutured with root coverage
as the goal. E, Healed free gingival graft for root
coverage.
216
Patient for a FREE GINGIVAL GRAFT
Determine:
Root exposure
Esthetic and restorative needs
Root coverage to be attempted

(consider more reliable procedures)
No root coverage
to be attempted
D
B
Some of each
Remove epithelium
and sulcular tissues
Combination
Initial incision just coronal

to mucogingival junction
Prepare bed
Reduce root prominence
Prepare bed
Prepare donor graft
Suture graft covering root
Suture graft at mucogingival junction
Apply pressure
Place bandage
Give postoperative instruction
Figure 108-2 A, Preoperative view of an area

with inadequate attached gingiva before free
gingival grafting. B, Preparation of a receptor
bed for a free gingival graft without root coverage as a goal. C, Free graft from palate sutured
in place. D, Healed area with additional attached
gingiva.
Additional Readings
Hall WB, Lundergan W. Free gingival graftscurrent indications and
technique. Dent Clin North Am 1993;37:227.
Hall WB et al. Aktueller Stand der Anwendung freier Gingivatransplantate. Phillip J Restaurative Zahnmed 1995;12:457.
Rateitschak KH et al. Color atlas of periodontology. Stuttgart: ThiemeVerlag; 1985. p. 230.

Sato N. Periodontal surgery: a clinical atlas. Tokyo: Quintessence Publishing; 2000. p. 82, 356.
Schluger et al. Periodontal diseases. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger;
1990. p. 567.
217
109
Connective Tissue Graft versus

Guided Tissue Regeneration
Walter B. Hall
The subepithelial connective tissue graft for root coverage

where recession has occurred was described by the Langers in
1985. It has become one of the most predictable approaches for
root coverage where facial or lingual recession has occurred. If
the donor tissue is obtained from the anterior palate, where the
submucosa is fatty, new attachment may be obtained because
epithelium does not grow to cover fatty tissue until it is replaced
with fibrous connective tissue.
The connective tissue graft has been used for regeneration
in Class II furcation involvements, as described by Han (1992).
A
218
If a patient has a single tooth with facial or lingual root

exposure or several adjacent teeth with such recession, two
approaches to predictable root coverage are available: the
connective tissue graft and guided tissue regeneration
(GTR). Because the connective tissue graft uses the
patients own tissue and therefore is much less expensive
(although more difficult to do), it should be considered first.
An adequate donor site of fatty connective tissue must be
present. Its presence may be evaluated by repetitive, gentle
finger pressure to the area of the rugae and sagitally to it. If
the area feels spongy, the submucosa probably is fatty and
usable for a connective tissue graft.
A connective tissue graft requires the lifting of a superficial
flap that is 1 or 2 mm thick at its thinnest point. If the rugae
are very gross (34 mm or more in height), raising a flap of
adequate thickness and still leaving tissue for a fatty subepithelial connective tissue graft may not be possible. If the
rugae are too substantial, therefore, a connective tissue
graft should not be attempted. GTR using a membrane
should be employed.
Finally, if interdental papillae are receded or involved with

pocketing, and full root coverage is the goal, the connective tissue graft is not the most promising choice. Miller
showed in 1985 that root coverage by means of grafting is
limited by the height of the interdental papillae and alveolar crests adjacent to the exposed root or roots. The same
limitation does not apply to GTR by means of a membrane.
Regeneration of interproximal tissues with new attachment has been predictably achievable since 1989, when
the first interproximal membranes for GTR became available. If interproximal height can be gained to increase coverage of exposed roots, GTR by means of a membrane is
the technique of choice whether facial or lingual surfaces
(with or without furcation involvements) are present in
the area to be treated. This technique has limited success at
this time, but its promise is great.
Additional Readings
Hall WB et al. Aktueller Stand der Anwendung freier Gingivatransplante. Phillip J Restaurative Zahnmed 1995;12:457.
Han TJ. Connective tissue membrane: treating grade II furcation
involvements. J Calif Dent Assoc 1992;20:47.
Miller PD. A classification of marginal tissue recession. Int J Periodontics
Sato N. Periodontal surgery: a clinical atlas. Tokyo: Quintessence Publishing; 2000. p. 113, 185, 338, 390.
Patient with single or multiple facial or lingual root exposure

being considered for ROOT COVERAGE WITH NEW ATTACHMENT
Determine:
Whether an adequate fatty connective
tissue donor site is available
Yes
No
Determine:
Whether rugae are too gross to permit
lifting of the superficial flap and still
having adequate fatty donor tissue available
Yes
GTR with a
membrane
No
GTR with a
membrane
Assess:
Whether interdental papillae
and interproximal bone crests
are of normal height
Yes
No
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFT
GTR with a
membrane
219
110
Coronally Positioned Pedicle Graft

Craig Gainza
The coronally positioned flap technique was popularized in the

1970s by Bernimoulin. The indications for it have diminished in
recent years owing to the success of single-stage root coverage procedures, but the coronally positioned flap continues to remain a
popular therapy. The advantage to this procedure (similar to that
for the pedicle graft) is maintenance of a continuous supply of
blood during healing. Frequently, this procedure is combined with
root conditioning to expose dentinal collagen, detoxify endotoxin,
and encourage new tissue attachment. Adequate attached gingiva
is necessary for successful coronal positioning of the flap. This procedure requires 3 to 5 mm of keratinized tissue apicocoronally. The
tissue should be 1.5 mm in thickness (Figure 110-1).
After determining the adequacy of attached gingiva,
address the esthetic needs of the patient. A simple evaluation of
the lip posture at rest and during a relaxed smile provides adequate exposure of recessed tissue. The patients comments and
own perception of esthetics are crucial in determining the next
stage of treatment planning.
A
If no esthetic needs are evident and adequate attached gingiva exists, implement restorative therapy as needed and
place the patient on a maintenance program.
If esthetic concerns are evident and adequate attached tissue

is present, a coronally positioned flap provides tissue reattachment to cover the exposed root surfaces. If Class V caries
or sensitivity is present, a coronally positioned flap with root
conditioning (root planing and citric acid) may resolve the
recession and dental pathology without a restoration.
Patients who have inadequate attached gingiva and request

esthetic improvement require evaluation for root caries
(and their removal if present) and determination of sufficient or insufficient adjacent donor tissue. If insufficient
donor tissue is available, free graft procedures are suggested. Miller, using free soft-tissue autografts, has been
successful at complete coverage of wide and deep wide
recession. The predictability of free graft procedures has
further improved with the interpositional approach to softtissue grafting, as described by Langer. The advantage of
both techniques is that they involve only a single surgical
procedure. Occasionally, complete root coverage cannot be
achieved by the free graft procedure alone; however, adequate attached tissue may exist. If incomplete coverage has
occurred in the presence of adequate attached gingiva, the
coronally positioned flap may be employed as a secondstage surgical procedure.
If inadequate gingiva is available and no esthetic requirements are evident, as occurs frequently in the premolar and
molar regions, a simple free gingival graft may create an
adequate band of attached gingiva. If shallow root caries or
sensitivity are present, a Class V restoration may be placed
and the patient placed on maintenance. To avoid a Class V
restoration altogether and correct the gingival recession, a
subepithelial connective tissue graft, a large free gingival
graft, or a two-stage free graft or coronally positioned flap
may be employed.
Figure 110-1 A, Flap design for root coverage with

a coronally positioned pedicle graft. B, Pedicle graft
reflected; side flaps removed. C, Pedicle graft coronally positioned with a single-sling suture. D, Root
coverage completed.
220
Patient with GINGIVAL RECESSION
Assess:
Adequate
Inadequate
Determine:
Whether patient has perceived esthetic needs
A No esthetic
concerns
Perceived
esthetic needs
C Perceived
Determine:
Whether root caries is present
No caries
Root caries
sensitivity
No caries
esthetic needs
Determine:
Whether problem is localized
or more generalized
Caries
removable
Localized
No esthetic
concerns
FREE GINGIVAL
GRAFT
More generalized
Maintenance
No root caries
or sensitivity
Maintenance
Class V
restoration
Assess:
Availability of donor tissue
CORONALLY
POSITIONED
GRAFT
Adequate
donor
Insufficient
donor tissue
FREE GINGIVAL
or CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFT
Remove caries or perform shallow restoration
CORONALLY
POSITIONED
GRAFT or other
PEDICLE GRAFT
Continued
esthetic
concerns
Manageable
result
SECOND-STAGE
CORONALLY
POSITIONED
GRAFT
Maintenance
and restoration
Additional Readings
Allen EP. Use of mucogingival surgical procedures to enhance esthetics.
Dent Clin North Am 1988;32:2.
Bernimoulin OJ, Luscher B, Muhleman HR. Coronally repositioned
flap: clinical evaluation after one year. J Clin Periodontol 1975;2:1.
Langer B, Calagna L. The subepithelial connective tissue graft. J Prosthet
Dent 1980;44:363.
Miller PD. Root coverage using a free soft-tissue autograft following citric acid application. I. Technique. Int J Periodontics Restorative
Dent 1982;2:65.
Miller PD. Root coverage using the free soft-tissue autograft following
citric acid application. III. A successful and predictable procedure in
areas of deep-wide recession. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent
1985;5:15.
221
111
Coronally Positioned Pedicle Graft Using Emdogain

Walter B. Hall
Pedicle graftspositioned laterally, obliquely, or coronally

have been used for many years as a means of covering exposed
roots. This is despite the comparatively low percentage of success
achieved with them and the lingering question of their mode of
attachment to the root. Emdogain was introduced in the late
1990s as an enhancer of new attachment growth. One of its most
promising applications is as a means of creating new attachment
of pedicle graft.
A
222
Ascertain whether there is a site adjacent to the exposed

root where there is sufficient gingiva for an adequate band
of attachment thick enough to minimize the likelihood of
future recession. For a pedicle graft, the gingiva should be
2 to 3 mm or more in height, and 0.5 mm or more in the
thickness, with sufficient width to cover 1 mm or more of
connective tissue on each side of the exposed root. If these
criteria cannot be met, a connective tissue graft (see Chapter 109) would be a better means of treatment.
If the adjacent pedicle donor site appears acceptable, determine whether a flap can be mobilized so that it covers the
exposed root without being under tension that would
compromise its blood supply. The criteria to consider are
the vestibular depth and the potential pull from adjacent
frenum bands.
A shallow vestibule or an adjacent frenum pull could limit

the freedom of a pedicle graft to a degree that it would have
to be sutured under tension at the receptor site. Such tension will compromise the success of the pedicle graft. A
connective tissue graft would be a better treatment selection in such cases.
The site that will receive the coronally positioned pedicle

graft should be prepared as described in an earlier chapter.
Once the pedicle has been prepared, coat the freshly planed
exposed root with Emdogain, and suturecovering both
the flap and the root. Wait 6 months, and then probe to
determine the level of attachment obtained; this should not
be done earlier.
Additional Readings
Pini-Prato GP et al. Periodontal regeneration therapy with coverage of
previously restored root surfaces: a two case report. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1992;12:451.
Sato N. Periodontal surgery. Tokyo: Quintessence Publishing; 2000.
p. 33642.
Patient with a LOCALIZED ROOT EXPOSURE
Decide:
Does an adjacent area that could be used as a
pedicle graft donor site have an adequate amount
of gingiva ( 23 mm)?
No
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFT
B Yes
Determine:
Is vestibular depth sufficient so that the pedicle
graft can be moved to cover the exposed root?
No
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE GRAFT
D Yes
Prepare receptor site
Raise pedicle graft

and coat receptor
root with Emdogain
Suture pedicle
graft covering the
exposed root and
Emdogain
Completed PEDICLE
GRAFT with EMDOGAIN
Evaluate clinical
attachment level
at 6 months
postsurgery
223
112
Root Coverage in Cases of Localized Gingival Recession

Carlo Clauser, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, Pierpaolo Cortellini, and Francesco Cairo
Gingival recession is the diagnosis if the gingival margin is

observed to be apical to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ). The
extent of this defect is determined by measuring the distance
between the CEJ and gingival margin. Gingival recession may be
caused by periodontal disease or traumatic toothbrushing. The
indications for treating gingival recessions are the patients
esthetic concerns and dental hypersensitivity. Miller (1985) proposed a clinical typology separating gingival recession into four
classes. Complete root coverage can be obtained if there is Class I
or Class II gingival recession (no loss of interdental bone and no
loss of soft tissue). Partial root coverage can be achieved in Class
III. Class IV gingival recession is not amenable to root coverage.
Procedures for covering exposed roots may be classified into two
groups: (1) mucogingival procedures (pedicle and free-standing
soft tissue grafts) and (2) guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Longterm studies confirm the stability of the clinical outcomes obtainable using root coverage procedures.
A
224
Mucogingival procedures are indicated in cases where gingival recessions are localized and shallow (< 5 mm). An
assessment of the residual keratinized tissue (KT) should be
performed to choose the correct surgical approach. A pedicle flap is indicated when adequate KT is available adjacent
or apical to the recession. A coronally advanced flap (CAF),
laterally positioned flap (LPF), or double papilla flap (DPF)
may be performed to minimize the gingival recession. The
CAF is a predictable procedure to treat shallow gingival
recessions. A trapezoidal flap design with a large base
allows sufficient blood supply to the pedicle flap. Flap thickness > 0.8 mm is associated with 100% root coverage. Contraindications for these techniques are frenum pull or a
shallow vestibule.
Free-standing soft tissue grafts are indicated in cases of gingival recession with inadequate KT present apically or laterally to the exposed root surface. Epithelium free-standing
gingival grafts (EFGGs, epithelium plus connective tissue)
may be harvested from the palate and secured to the surgical bed to completely or partially cover the root surface. A
two-step surgical technique may be used with the coronal
positioning of the previously placed graft. Grafts using connective tissue only (CTGs) are more frequent in clinical
practice. CTGs result in more predictable root coverage and
a more satisfying esthetic result (eg, better color match).
GTR allows complete regeneration of lost periodontal support. GTR yields better results in terms of root coverage and
gain in clinical attachment in cases of deep gingival recessions (> 5 mm). Nonresorbable barriers such as expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene were first applied in GTR procedures. These barriers require a second surgical procedure
for removal of the membranes. More recently, resorbable
membranes (collagen, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid)
have been introduced to reduce patient discomfort. Similar
amounts of root coverage have been obtained using
resorbable and nonresorbable membranes. The GTR
approach requires the raising of a trapezoidal, full-thickness, large flap to uncover the alveolar bone crest. The
membrane is secured at the CEJ to completely cover the
root surface. Different approaches may be used to create
and maintain sufficient space for regeneration (heavy root
planing, reinforced barriers, resorbable materials under the
membrane). The flap is then coronally placed to completely
cover the membrane. An EFGG may be used before the
GTR technique if the amount of KT is inadequate to cover
the membrane.
Class III gingival recession associated with interdental bone

loss may be reduced using an EFGG after the periodontitis
has been successfully treated. An attempt to regenerate the
interdental bone and reduce the recession may be performed using a GTR technique.
Additional Readings
Allen EP, Miller PD. Coronal positioning of existing gingiva: short-term
results in the treatment of shallow marginal tissue recession. J Periodontol 1989;60:316.
Borghetti A, Louise F. Controlled clinical evaluation of the subpedicle
connective tissue graft for the coverage of the gingival recession. J
Miller PD. A classification of the marginal tissue recession. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1985;5:9.
Pini-Prato G, Clauser C, Cortellini P, et al. Guided tissue regeneration versus mucogingival surgery in the treatment of human buccal gingival
recessions: a 4-year follow-up study. J Periodontol 1996;67:1216.
Roccuzzo M, Lungo M, Corrente G, Gandolfo S. Comparative study of a
bioresorbable and a non-resorbable membrane in the treatment of
human buccal gingival recessions. J Periodontol 1996;67:7.
Patient with CLASS I, II, or III RECESSION after treatment of PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Determine:
Pocket depth
Shallow (< 5 mm)
Deep (> 5 mm)
Mucogingival approaches
GTR
Assess:
Residual amount of KT adjacent
or apical to the recession
Assess:
Residual amount of
KT apical to the recession
Adequate
Inadequate
Pedicle flap
Adequate
Free grafts
Inadequate
GTR technique
Free graft
Membrane
CAF
Trapezoidal
flap
LPF
DPF
Semilunar
flap
CTG + envelope
technique
CTG + CAF
EFGG
CTG
Satisfying root
coverage
CTG + DPF
Resorbable
membrane +
CAF
Nonresorbable
membrane +
CAF
No satisfying
root coverage
Reentry surgery
CAF
CAF
CAF
CTG + LPF
225
113
Treatment of Multiple, Adjacent Gingival

Recessions Using a Connective Tissue Graft
Jon Zabalegui and Alberto Sicillia
Gingival recession that results in unsightly root exposure is a common problem that may be remedied using cosmetic surgical procedures such as a connective tissue graft (CTG) or guided tissue
regeneration (GTR). The majority of such procedures treat only
single or double, adjacent recessions. The treatment described here
utilizes CTG and a tunnel approach to cover multiple (more than
two), adjacent recessions in a single procedure (Figure 113-1).
CTG has the following advantages when compared with
GTR: better color match of graft and adjacent gingiva, high rate
of clinical successwith few recipient-site sloughings, greater
gain in keratinized tissue, greater gain in attachment, but no
donor surgical siteand lower cost.
A
To use CTG to cover multiple, adjacent, exposed roots,

there must be an adequate donor site where the palatal tissue is thick enough, long enough, and wide enough that
Figure 113-1 A distal furcation involvement on the first molar with

apparent second molar root proximity.
Figure 113-2 Suture placed within tunnel from mesial aspect.
226
the exposed sites can be covered without compromising the

health of the donor site. The palatal tissue must be thick
enough that from it a flap of 1 mm thickness can be raised
in order to obtain underlying connective tissue for the graft
without perforating the flap or leaving too little connective
tissue to comprise the graft (which should be at least 1 mm
thick). The palatal tissue must be both long enough and
wide enough to cover the receptor area without causing
adjacent palatal root structure to be exposed or damage to
the anterior palatal nerve and vessel complex.
B
Should no such adequate donor site exist, an alternative

treatment can be used, such as one (or more) multipletooth GTR procedure.
If there is an adequate donor site, decide how many teeth

can be treated at one time. Then prepare the tunnel receptor site (see Figure 113-1), and freshen all exposed dentine
in the areas of recession. Obtain graft material sufficient to
fill the tunnel. Cover the exposed roots, and extend the graft
site slightly coronally to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ)
on each of the teeth being treated. Place two sutures, one at
the most mesial and the other at the most distal aspect of the
tunnel (Figures 113-2 and 113-3), entering from beneath
the tunnel flap and exiting through the most central area of
gingival recession. Pick up the most-distal and -mesial ends
of the graft material using vertical mattress sutures (Figure
113-4). Pull and push the graft material using the sutures,
together with a dull instrument, until it is positioned in such
a way that it covers the exposed roots for several millimeters
apically to the bone margin and coronally to the CEJs. Fix
the graft with sutures at its distal and mesial ends (Figure
113-5). Press in position for 5 minutes using damp gauze
and a dull instrument. Remove the gauze.
Figure 113-3 Suture placed within tunnel from distal aspect.
Patient with MULTIPLE, ADJACENT RECESSIONS for treatment with a CONNECTIVE TISSUE GRAFT
Determine:
Is an adequate CTG donor sight available to cover the
involved adjacent teeth with root exposures?
No
Yes
Use an alternative
procedure, (eg, GTR)
Decide:
How many adjacent teeth
will be treated at one time?
Will require more

than one procedure
Will require only

one procedure
Prepare receptor site for first CTG

Obtain CTG from palate to cover tunnel area teeth
Place sutures at lateral ends of graft
Position graft in tunnel covering exposed roots
and extending coronal to their CEJs
Suture in place and apply pressure
Figure 113-4 Connective tissue graft positioned over the mid-most

tooth with mesial and distal sutures grasping its mesial and distal ends.
The patient should be advised not to disturb the surgical sites

for several weeks. The sites should not be probed for 6 months.
Additional Readings
Allen A. Use of the supraperiosteal envelope in soft tissue grafting for root
coverage. II. Clinical results. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent
1994;14:303.
Figure 113-5 Connective tissue graft pulled into position within the
tunnel, covering the exposed roots, and sutured at mesial most and distal most ends.
Langer B, Langer L. Subepithelian connective tissue graft technique for

Pini-Prato G, Glauser C, Cortellini P, et al. Guided tissue regeneration
versus mucogingival surgery in the treatment of human buccal
recession: a 4-year follow-up study. J Periodontol 1996;67:1216.
Zabalegui I, Sicilia A, Cambra J, et al. Treatment of multiple adjacent gingival recessions with the tunnel subepithelial connective tissue graft:
a clinical report. Int J Periodontics Restortive Dent 1999;19:199.
227
114
Denudation
Walter B. Hall
Denudation is the exposure of bone that is left nude to heal by

secondary intention as additional gingiva. The procedure is of
limited usefulness because of its reputation as being uncomfortable and associated with slow healing and further bone loss.
Nevertheless, denudation has a place in the armamentarium of
any accomplished therapist as a means of predictably creating
more attached gingiva, if used judiciously.
A
228
If a patient has a pure mucogingival problem, a problem of

inadequate attached gingiva that is not associated with
pocket formation and bone loss (periodontitis), the locale of
the problem determines whether gingival grafting or
denudation is the appropriate surgical approach. If the problem is on the facial aspect of a mandibular second or third
molar, denudation is a logical approach. In this area the
vestibule often is shallow and the facial cortical plate is thick.
In such cases, gingival grafting is unlikely to be successful. If
the vestibule is shallow and the cortical plate is dense, more
gingiva may be created by deepening the vestibule with
osseous recontouring and apical positioning of the soft tissue
so that 4 to 5 mm of bone is left nude to heal by secondary
intention as a broader band of attached gingiva. If the
vestibule is sufficiently deep already, the soft tissue may be
displaced 4 to 5 mm apically and the bone left to heal by secondary intention as a broader band of attached gingiva.
If the pure mucogingival problem is in the same area as a

mucogingival-osseous problem (periodontitis), two approaches
are possible. The flap may be apically positioned after osseous
recontouring to eliminate osseous defects; enough bone
must be left exposed to heal by secondary intention as gingiva. Alternatively, a two-surgery approach may be used;
place a free gingival graft first and then apically position it
after osseous recontouring, or apically position the flap and
place a free gingival graft later. For most patients, a singlesurgery approach involving denudation is preferable to a
two-surgery approach that includes free gingival grafting and
apical positioning of a flap at separate visits.
Additional Readings
Bohannon HM. Studies in the alterations in vestibular depth: complete
denudation. J Periodontol 1962;33:120.
1984. p. 161.
Febiger; 1990. p. 563.
Patient with REQUIREMENT FOR MORE ATTACHED GINGIVA
Determine:
Nature and locale of problem
Pure mucogingival
problem only
Mandibular second and

third molars (facial)
DENUDATION
OSSEOUS
RECONTOURING to
create vestibular depth
APICALLY POSITIONED
FLAP with 45 mm of
bone left denuded
Pure mucogingival problem

in same segment as a
mucogingival-osseous problem
Other area
PEDICLE or
FREE GINGIVAL
GRAFT
APICALLY POSITIONED
FLAP APPROACH with
PARTIAL DENUDATION
Eliminate osseous
defects, OSTEOPLASTY
Assess:
Vestibular depth
Inadequate
vestibular
depth
Adequate
vestibular
depth
APICALLY POSITIONED
FLAP and FREE GINGIVAL
GRAFT APPROACH
GRAFT first,
then APICALLY
POSITIONED
FLAP
APICALLY
POSITIONED
FLAP, then
FREE GRAFT
APICALLY POSITIONED FLAP

leaving enough bone denuded
to create 45 mm of attached
gingiva when healed
Thin cortical
plate
APICALLY POSITIONED
FLAP with 45 mm of
bone left denuded
229
115
Ridge Augmentation
Walter B. Hall
Periodontal surgery may be used to improve the form of an

edentulous ridge to permit placement of a more esthetic and
cleansable fixed bridge on an area where the loss of teeth has
resulted in a grossly deficient or grotesquely malformed ridge.
Such problems often occur when teeth are lost because of accidents or severe abscessing. Fracture of a cortical plate during
tooth extraction also may create such defects. Either the ridge
may be contorted in a manner that makes the bridge construction difficult to clean, and unesthetic, or the ridge may be so
deficient that excessively long, ugly pontics have been or would
be placed in the fixed-bridge construction.
A
If a patient has an edentulous ridge area, both adequate

proximal and distal abutment teeth must be present for
ridge augmentation to be necessary.
Determine the amenability of the site for fixed-bridge construction. If the edentulous area is too lengthy to permit
fixed-bridge construction, either a removable denture

approach or implant is indicated (see Chapter 68 and 120).
C
If the edentulous site is amenable to fixed-bridge construction, assess the form of the edentulous ridge area to decide
whether an esthetic, cleansable bridge may be constructed
using the ridge as it exists. If no augmentation is needed,
but the ridge is grotesquely formed or so shaped that an
esthetic, cleansable bridge cannot be constructed, the dentist should consider ridge augmentation.
The approach to ridge augmentation is selected by assessing

the availability of a soft-tissue donor site for an inlay or
overlay approach (Figure 115-1). If a good donor site is
available, that approach may be offered to the patient. If no
adequate donor site is available, only the grinded bone augmentation (GBA) approach or use of a synthetic bone fill
material may be presented to the patient.
Figure 115-1 A, An incisal view of a disfigured ridge caused by a loss of

its facial cortical plate in an accident. B, Flaps have been raised, exposing the deficient ridge. A subepithelial connective tissue graft from the
palate is being placed into the defect. C, The connective tissue graft has
been sutured to fill the defect, plumping the ridge to create an esthetically pleasing base for a pontic.
C
230
Patient with an EDENTULOUS RIDGE AREA
Determine:
Whether adequate abutments are available
at both ends of the edentulous area
No
Yes
Determine:
Whether edentulous area is amenable
to fixed-bridge construction
No
Use removable restoration

or do implant; augmentation
as indicated (see Chapters
68 and 120)
Yes
Determine:
Whether ridge is grotesquely malformed
Whether ridge facilitates esthetic, cleansable
pontic form
No
Yes
Consider
augmentation
Augmentation
not needed
Assess:
Availability of soft-tissue inlay or onlay donor site
Adequate donor
not available
Adequate donor
available
GBA or SYNTHETIC
BONE FILL
GINGIVAL INLAY or
ONLAY AUGMENTATION
Additional Readings
Abrams L. Augmentation of the deformed residual edentulous ridge for
fixed prosthesis. Compend Cont Educ Dent 1980;1:205.

Febiger; 1990. p. 632.
Seibert J. Reconstruction of the deformed partially edentulous ridges
using full-thickness overlay grafts. Parts 1 and 2. Compend Cont
Educ Dent 1983;4:437.
231
116
Dressing Following Pure Mucogingival Surgery

Walter B. Hall
acrylate work well for this purpose and should be used in

countries where they are legal. Otherwise the selection of a
dressing seems to be the dentists choice. Use of a Stomahesive bandage is favored; it lasts only 6 to 8 hours in the
palate because of tongue activity. In the first few days it
must be replaced by the patient several times. Others may
favor placement of Colycote or Surgicel, both of which
minimize bleeding, although not as well as Stomahesive
bandage does. Still others may favor placing Coe Pak and
suturing it in place; this is a tedious process that results in
poorer control of bleeding, but the Coe Pak does not
require replacement. A palatal stent is favored by others.
The dentist who has completed a pure mucogingival surgical procedure must decide whether a dressing is necessary and, if so, the
proper one to use. The best dressing for a gingival graft is one that
does not move and does not require removal procedures that
would tug on sutures. It should provide stability for the graft,
minimize bleeding, and keep blood from collecting between the
graft and the receptor site. Cyanoacrylate dressings such as
isobutyl cyanoacrylate or trifluor isopropyl cyanoacrylate are
excellent for these purposes, but they are not approved for use in
the United States. In some other countries, however, they are
available and work well. Donor sites have similar requirements.
A
232
For, free gingival graft receptor sites and connective tissue

sites, a dressing may not be necessary; however, Stomahesive bandage has the advantages of maintaining the adaptation of the graft to the receptor bed and minimizing
bleeding or blood pooling. The simplicity of placement of a
Stomahesive bandage and its gradual dissolvability make it
the dressing of choice. Coe Pak or an alternative has the
disadvantages of difficulty of stabilization when papillae
completely fill interproximal spaces and the probability that
movement of the pack during healing will disrupt the tenuous, developing union of graft and receptor site. If the
pure mucogingival procedure is part of a mucogingivalosseous procedure, Coe Pak or an alternative becomes the
dressing of choice because the opening of interproximal
spaces permits solid, stable pack application.
The donor site for a free gingival graft or connective tissue
graft also may need to have a dressing placed to minimize
bleeding and protect the donor area from the tongue and
food. Isobutyl cyanoacrylate and trifluor isopropyl cyano-
If denudation is used to produce a broader band of attached

gingiva, it is usually as part of a mucogingival-osseous procedure for pocket elimination. Coe Pak or an alternative is
the dressing of choice in such cases. The pack may have to
be replaced for a second week because of the slowness of
healing when bone is left nude.
Additional Readings
Coslet JG, Rosenberg ES, Tisot R. The free autogenous gingival graft.
1984. p. 107.
Sato N. Periodontal surgery: a clinical atlas. Tokyo: Quintessence Publishing; 2000. p. 362, 378.
Patient AFTER PURE MUCOGINGIVAL SURGERY
Consider:
Nature of surgery
FREE GINGIVAL GRAFT

RECEPTOR SITE
PURE MUCOGINGIVAL
SURGERY ONLY
FREE GINGIVAL GRAFT

or CONNECTIVE TISSUE
GRAFT DONOR SITE
DENUDATION
PART OF A MUCOGINGIVALOSSEOUS PROCEDURE
Determine:
Dressing of choice
STOMAHESIVE
BANDAGE
None
COE PAK OR
ALTERNATIVE
STOMAHESIVE
BANDAGE
COLYCOTE
OR SURGICEL
OR STENT
COE PAK OR
ALTERNATIVE
233
117
Restoration Following Pure Mucogingival Surgery

Walter B. Hall
The timing of a restorative procedure after a pure mucogingival

surgical procedure is crucial to maintaining a successful graft.
The timing depends on the restorative procedures to be done
and the objectives of the graft used (root coverage or only a
broader band of attached gingiva to prevent further recession).
A
If a supragingival restoration is planned, it may be performed as soon as the success of the graft has been ensured
(usually no sooner than 2 weeks postsurgically). If waiting
longer presents no great difficulty, a longer period for healing before the supragingival restoration is placed is desirable.
If a rest-proximal plate I bar type of removable partial denture (RPI) or an overdenture is planned, root coverage is
not an objective of pure mucogingival surgery. Grafts are
performed to create an adequate band of attached gingiva
to underlay a I bar for the partial or provide 2 to 5 mm of
attached gingiva on the overdenture teeth; nevertheless,
allow a month or more before taking impressions to prepare the RPI removable denture or overdenture.
234
If a restoration is to be placed close to the free margin of the

gingiva or subgingivally after pure mucogingival surgery,
the objective of the graft procedure influences when the
restorative procedure may be performed. If root coverage

has not been attempted, the restoration may be placed
2 weeks or more after the surgical procedure, although a
longer period of healing is desirable. If root coverage is the
objective of the gingival grafting procedure, allow a longer
period for healing before preparing a restoration close to the
new free margin of the gingiva or subgingivally. Regardless
of whether the graft is a free gingival type or a connective
tissue one, disturbance of the new marginal gingiva too soon
after surgery may result in graft retraction or failure. Allow
several months before restorative preparation. A much
longer period is desirable to encourage the development of
a more stable attachment of the grafted tissue and root.
Additional Readings
Lange DE, Bernimoulin JP. Exfoliative cytological studies in evaluation
of free gingival graft healing. J Clin Periodontol 1974;1:89.
McFall WT. The laterally repositioned flap: criteria for success. Periodontics 1968;5:89.
Wilderman MR, Wentz FM. Repair of a dentogingival defect with a pedicle flap. J Periodontol 1965;36:218.
Patient with GINGIVAL GRAFT PLACED AND REQUIRING RESTORATION OF TOOTH
Consider:
Restorative procedure planned
Supragingival
restoration
RPI partial or
overdenture case
Marginal or
subgingival
restoration
Consider:
Objective of graft
No root
coverage
attempted
No root
coverage
attempted
Root
coverage
attempted
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
May be restored
2 weeks or more
after any graft
procedure
Impressions can be
taken 1 month after
graft procedure
May be restored
2 weeks or more
after any graft
procedure
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE
GRAFT
Restore no sooner
than several months
after graft procedure
235
PART 12
DECISION MAKING IN
POSTSURGICAL REEVALUATIONS
118 Postsurgical Reevaluation
Walter B. Hall
119 Behavioral Approach to Recall Visits
Walter B. Hall
118
Postsurgical Reevaluation
Walter B. Hall
After a patients periodontal surgery has been completed, the

dentist must decide when to evaluate the success of the surgery.
The term usually applied to this examination is reevaluation,
which includes visual examination and charting. Radiographic
evaluation is not advisable at this time because little may be
learned from the films (insurance companies should be told so if
they request films), and the additional radiation exposure cannot
be justified. The timing of postsurgical reevaluation depends on
the surgical procedures that have been used. Generally, the
longer the period before reevaluation, the more accurate the prediction; however, the patient and dentist may have valid reasons
to wish to proceed as soon as reasonable (eg, splinting with fixed
bridges may improve patient function and comfort).
A
236
After pocket-elimination surgery (apically positioned flap

and osseous recontouring, gingivoplasty), reevaluate
1 month after the final surgery. Because no new attachment has been attempted, probing will not endanger the
success of the procedure.
New attachment procedures depend on the development of
a new connective tissue attachment to new cementum
(cementoid). The success of these procedures may be less
predictable. Early probing may disturb a newly developing
attachment and result in a less desirable long epithelial
attachment. Allow at least 6 months before the new
attachment area is probed. Such areas include all bone
regeneration sites, connective tissue grafts in which root
coverage has been attempted, and second molar roots
exposed in relation to the removal of an impacted or partially erupted third molar.

C
Reattachment is the term used to describe the healing

together of a gingival flap and root surface that have been
separated by surgery rather than by disease. The viable root
surface and flap routinely heal together. If such an
approach has been used (eg, when the retraction of a flap
exposes a dehiscence or fenestration), allow 1 month or
more after the surgery before performing reevaluation with
probing. Such a long wait is not necessary if new attachment has been attempted.
If gingival grafting procedures are used to broaden the band

of attached gingiva and no root coverage is attempted, reevaluation may be performed at 1 month (or possibly earlier).
Additional Readings
Mosby; 1988. p. 1095.
Pihlstrom BL, Ortiz-Campos C, McHugh RB. A randomized four-year
study of periodontal therapy. J Periodontol 1981;52:227.
Patient on COMPLETION OF SURGICAL THERAPY
Consider:
Type of surgery
POCKET
ELIMINATION
Reevaluate 1 month
or more after surgery
NEW ATTACHMENT
(INCLUDING GRAFTS
for ROOT COVERAGE)
Reevaluate 6 months
REATTACHMENT
Reevaluate 1 month
GINGIVAL GRAFTS
WITHOUT ROOT
COVERAGE
Reevaluate 1 month
237
119
Behavioral Approach to Recall Visits

Walter B. Hall
The timing of recall visits for periodontal patients may be

planned in several ways. Some dentists, citing long-term studies
of periodontal treatment based on a uniform recall interval,
recall all their patients at 3-month intervals. They believe that
they can predict their success rates with various forms of treatment more accurately on this basis, but the problem with this
approach is the patients response. For years, many dentists
recalled their patients twice a year, because studies indicated
that with such recalls caries would not develop rapidly enough
to endanger many teeth. In behavioral terms, however, many
patients learned that they had to return to the dentist every
6 months whether they needed it or not (ie, whether they had
made a good effort at oral hygiene or not). Patients understood
this message long before dentists did, and oral hygiene and the
incidence of caries improved little during that era. An approach
that uses long-term study concepts in a more behavorially
sound way is the rewarding of patients depending on the adequacy of their home care efforts between visits; thus if a patient
is doing well (based on assessments of plaque, inflammation,
and pocket depth), the time before the next recall is extended,
which offers a direct reward for individual efforts and reinforces
desirable behavior. Within a large group of patients, the average
recall time is likely to be 3 months; however, no individual
patient is likely to be recalled regularly at 3-month intervals.
The greatest advantage of the behavioral approach to the
timing of recall visits is that patients are given an immediate
reinforcement for good or poor effort. The patients see either
that their efforts have paid off or that lack of effort has brought
an appropriate response. In the fixed-interval (every 3 months)
approach, praise or scolding is the only reward or punishment
available to the dentist. The more tangible reward of less cost
(in time, money, and discomfort) is much more likely to prove
successful. Additionally, the dentist can demonstrate the way
the treatment was altered to respond to patient behavior
between visits, and patients accept responsibility for their
progress and its costs.
A
238
When a patients first recall visit is to be scheduled, information on which to base the recall interval is not clearly
defined. The patient may have remaining areas of compromise such as individual teeth for which definitive treatment
is impossible (because these teeth already had lost too
much attachment), or a less definitive treatment may have
been selected for financial reasons. Some patients are compromised by the status of their health. Others may be compromised by less-than-ideal restorative work or tooth alignment. If the patient has areas of compromise, they should
be annotated and the recall interval decreased. If a compromised patient has shown little motivation to develop
home care skills, the first recall visit should be set at 1 to
2 months; with evidence of good oral hygiene, skill development, and motivation, however, the first recall may be
set at 2 to 3 months. If the patient has no areas of compromise remaining, evidence of oral hygiene skill and motivation may be used to set the first recall interval. If the
patients efforts have been minimally successful, the first
recall visit may be set at 2 to 3 months; with greater success
the interval may be increased to 3 months or more.
B
Further recall visits are easier to schedule in a behaviorally

successful manner. At each recall visit, evaluate plaque control, the status of gingival inflammation, and the depth of
pockets and use this measure of the patients success to
determine the next recall interval. Patient behavior over
the years is rarely consistent. Many factors in patients lives
influence their efforts at oral hygiene. Periods of stress or
illness affect the ability to deal with plaque. If plaque control has been inadequate, shorten the recall interval. If
much inflammation is present or if pocket depths are
increasing, shorten the intervals even further. If the
patients efforts do not improve, alternative approaches
(even extraction of poor-risk teeth that may endanger adjacent abutments) may be necessary. If efforts improve after
several recall visits, an increase in the time between recalls
is an appropriate reward. Maintain a patient whose efforts
are fair or adequate at the current recall intervals. Reward
a patient whose efforts have given excellent results by
increasing the time between recalls.
Additional Readings
Chace R. The maintenance phase of periodontal therapy. J Periodontol
1951;22:23.
Lindhe I. Textbook of clinical periodontology. 2nd ed. Copenhagen:
Parr RW. Periodontal maintenance therapy. Berkeley (CA): Praxis;
1974. p. 1.
Ramfjord SP et al. Longitudinal study of periodontal therapy. J Periodontol 1973;44:66.
Ramfjord SP et al. Oral hygiene and maintenance of periodontal support. J Periodontol 1982;53:26.
Febiger; 1990. p. 732.
Patient with CURRENT PERIODONTAL TREATMENT COMPLETED
Consider:
Stage in sequence of visits
First recall visit
Consider:
Remaining areas of compromise
Areas of
compromise
remain
Little evidence
of oral hygiene
ability
Good evidence
of oral hygiene
ability
Successive recall visits
Consider:
Past performance and response
No areas of
compromise
remain
Little evidence
of oral hygiene
ability
Good evidence
of oral hygiene
ability
Inadequate
Decrease
interval
between
recalls
Fair
Maintain
current
recall
interval
Good
Increase
interval
between
recalls
Assess:
Patients efforts
Recall at
12-month
interval
Recall at
23-month
interval
Recall at
23-month
interval
Recall at
3 month
interval
No
improvement
Recall at
23-month
interval
Some
improvement
Consider:
Increasing interval
between recalls
239
PART 13
OSSEOINTEGRATED IMPLANTS
120 Basic Considerations in Selecting a Patient for Implants
E. Robert Stultz Jr and William Grippo
121 Selection of Implant Modalities for Partially Dentulous Patients
122 Restoration of a Single-Tooth Edentulous Space Using a Dental Implant
Alex R. McDonald
123 Soft-Tissue Plastic Surgery around Implants
Roberto Barone, Carlo Clauser, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, and Francesco Cairo
124 Guided Bone Augmentation for Osseointegrated Implants
William Becker and Burton E. Becker
125 Patient with a Single Edentulous Space
Larry G. Loos
126 Multiple Single Implants or Implants as Abutments
Larry G. Loos
127 Maintenance of Implant-Supported Restorations
Carrie Berkovich
128 Periimplantitis: Etiology of the Ailing, Failing, or Failed Dental Implant
Mark Zablotsky and John Y. Kwan
129 Periimplantitis: Initial Therapy for the Ailing or Failing Dental Implant
130 Periimplantitis: Surgical Management of Implant Repair
120
Basic Considerations in Selecting a Patient for Implants

evaluated. If the height or width of the recipient ridge areas

is inadequate or the trajectory is unsatisfactory, an implant
may not be feasible. Bony undercuts also present problems,
as do the positions of anatomic features such as the mental
foramen. These factors may be examined using simple dental radiographs, Panorex films, tomographic or cephalometric film, or computerized tomographic scan imaging. If
the ridge is inadequate for any reason, an implant is inappropriate, and alternatives should be considered.
A patient considering an implant approach to an edentulous or

partially dentulous condition may seek information from a general dentist or specialist. In each case, a series of decisions is
made to determine whether the patient is a reasonable candidate for implant therapy. The initial decisions involve medical
and psychologic qualification for implant therapy. After these
considerations are met successfully, the dental indications and
contraindications may be evaluated.
A
A medical evaluation is made from a questionnaire, a

patient interview, and any medical consultations necessitated by the history. Conditions that make surgery dangerous or adversely affect healing must be considered.
Examples of absolute contraindications are recurrent
myocardial infarction, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, debilitating or transmissible hepatitis, pregnancy,
granulocytopenia, poorly controlled diabetes, and drug or
alcohol dependency. Other conditions (eg, prolonged corticosteroid use, blood dyscrasias, collagen diseases, malignancies, heavy smoking) make implants a questionable
alternative. If any significant medical contraindication
exists and cannot be resolved promptly, implants are not
indicated and alternative approaches are required.
If no medical contraindications are detected, the psychologic status of the patient and the reasonableness of patient
expectations are evaluated. If the patient is psychologically
unstable or has unrealistic expectations of implant therapy,
alternative approaches should be considered.
If the patient is psychologically well adjusted and does not

expect miracles in esthetics or functional benefits from an
implant approach, the consequences of the totally edentulous or partially dentulous condition should be considered
next. The status of teeth to be retained is a complicating factor in this decision process. The position of these teeth and
their periodontal status and restorability must be considered.
To determine whether adequate support exists for implants,

the quantity of bone available at implant sites must be
240
If bone quantity is satisfactory, bone quality should be considered next. The most ideal alveolar bone is the dense cortical bone of the mandibular anterior ridge; the least desirable is the thin cortical loose trabecular bone typically
found in the maxillary posterior region. Bone quality may
be classified as follows:
Class
Class
Class
Class
I: Dense cortical bone

II: Dense cortical bone with dense trabecular bone
III: Moderate cortical and trabecular bone
IV: Thin cortical bone with poor trabecular bone
Patients with Class I or Class II bone are good candidates

for osseointegrated implants. Those with Class III or Class
IV bone require bone augmentation before osseointegrated
implants or a subperiosteal approach.
Additional Readings
Branemark PI, Zarb G, Albrecktson T. Tissue integrated prosthesis:
osseointegration in clinical dentistry. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1985. p. 1.
Golec TS. Implants, what and when. Calif Dent Assoc J 1987;15:49.
Jensen O. Site classification for the osseointegrated implant. J Prosthet
Dent 1989;61:228.
Misch C, Judy K. Classification of partially edentulous arches for
implant dentistry. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1986;12:688.
Stambaugh R. Surgical management of the complicated periodontalprosthesis patient. J Calif Dent Assoc 1989;17:31.
Patient who is EDENTULOUS OR PARTIALLY DENTULOUS AND CONSIDERING IMPLANTS
Consider:
Medical status and medical
contraindications to implants
Contraindications
No implants;
consider
alternatives
No contraindications
Consider:
Psychologic status, psychologic
contraindications to implants, and
reasonableness of patient expectations
Contraindications
or unrealistic
expectations
No contraindications;
realistic expectations
Edentulous
Consider
alternatives
Assess:
Clinical and radiographic quantity of
available bone for implant placement
Esthetic considerations:
height, width of ridges,
trajectory, undercuts,
anatomic status satisfactory
Partially edentulous
(consider support from
retained teeth)
Esthetic considerations:
height, width of ridges,
trajectory, undercuts,
anatomic status not adequate
Assess:
Clinical and radiographic quality of
available bone for implant placement
Dense cortical bone with

or without trabecular bone;
adequate quality of bone
OSSEOINTEGRATED
IMPLANTS
Thinner cortical bone with

loose trabecular bone;
inadequate quality of bone
OSSEOINTEGRATED
IMPLANTS feasible
with added support
Gingival and osseous

AUGMENTATION
PROCEDURES TO
establish ADEQUATE
anatomy
241
121
Selection of Implant Modalities

for Partially Dentulous Patients
After the basic factors that determine the eligibility of a patient

for implant therapy have been met (see Chapter 120), the periodontal status of teeth to be retained must be determined.
A
If the remaining teeth are healthy periodontally, an implant

approach to therapy for the partially dentulous patient
becomes feasible.
If significant periodontal problems are detected (eg, deep

pockets, furcation involvement, poor crown-to-root ratio),
the likelihood of treatment making affected teeth useful in
the overall treatment plan must be assessed. The ability of
the patient to perform adequate plaque control may be
evaluated during the periodontal treatment phase. If the
periodontal problems are refractory (response is poor) or
good plaque control is not demonstrated, implants are not
likely to be helpful, and alternatives should be explored.
If periodontal problems appear resolvable, their resolution

must be established after treatment. Unsuccessful cases
should not receive implant therapy. Implant therapy is feasible in successful cases.
Available bone support is considered next. If alveolar bone

height is greater than 10 mm, its width greater than 6 mm,
and the trajectory less than 25, endosseous cylinder
implants are the best approach.
If the available bone height is less than 10 mm, the width

only 4 to 6 mm, and the trajectory greater than 25,
endosseous blade implants are indicated.
242
If inadequate bone height or width is present for

endosseous root form implants, various procedures such as
membrane-assisted hard tissue grafts, monocortical onlay
grafts from the chin or ascending ramus, ridge expansion
techniques, and sinus elevation procedures in the maxilla
may be employed to create an adequate ridge.
If these procedures succeed, the adequacy of the available bone may be reassessed. In some cases, guided bone
augmentation may be employed at the time of placement of
the cylinder implant into an extraction socket.
In selected cases in which the alveolar ridge is deficient in

height but adequate in width (> 6 mm), a subperiosteal
implant may be the treatment of choice. This choice is most
useful in the posterior mandible, where monocortical onlay
grafting or nerve lateralization is not recommended.
Additional Readings
Branemark Pl, Zarb G, Albrektson T. Tissue integrated prosthesis: osseointegration in clinical dentistry. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing;
1985. p. 1.
Golec TS. Implants, what and when. Calif Dent Assoc J 1987;15:49.
Jensen O. Site classification for the osseointegrated implant. J Prosthet
Dent 1989;61:228.
Misch C, Judy K. Classification of partially edentulous arches for implant
dentistry. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1986;12:688.
Meffert RM, Block MS, Kent JN. What is osseointegration? Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1987;11:135.
Smiler DG. Evaluation and treatment planning. Calif Dent Assoc J
1987;15:35.
Patient for IMPLANT THERAPY: EVALUATION OF PERIODONTAL STATUS
Assess:
Periodontal status
Significant
periodontal
problems
Healthy
periodontium
Determine:
Whether problem is
resolvable with treatment
Refractory or
not resolvable
Resolvable periodontal
problems (inflammatory,
osseous, mucogingival,
occlusal)
No implants
Treat
Proceed with
alternatives
IMPLANTATION
feasible
Unsuccessful
Consider:
Available bone support
Alveolar height > 10 mm,

width < 6 mm, trajectory
< 25
Alveolar height < 10 mm,

width only 46 mm,
trajectory > 25
G
F
BONE
AUGMENTATION
MEMBRANEASSISTED OR
HARD TISSUE
GRAFTS
ENDOSSEOUS
BLADE IMPLANTS
SINUS
ELEVATION
Inadequate bone
height or width for
endosseous system
SUBPERIOSTEAL
IMPLANT
MONOCORTICAL
ONLAY GRAFTS
RIDGE
EXPANSION
PROCEDURE
ENDOSSEOUS
BLADE IMPLANTS
243
122
Restoration of a Single-Tooth Edentulous Space

Using a Dental Implant
Alex R. McDonald
The health of the patient must be considered in planning

treatment. To receive a dental implant, a patient must be able
to tolerate an oral surgical procedure. In particular, any health
problems interfering with blood supply should be considered.
Blood supply and wound healing can be adversely affected by
diabetes and smoking. Bone density in older women is a consideration. However, recent data demonstrate a positive relationship between maxillary implant success and women taking hormone replacement therapy.
Potential lateral occlusal forces on dental implant restorations should be minimized to ensure long-term success. If it
is not possible to fully manage parafunctional occlusal
habits, then alternatives to implant treatment should be
considered. Occlusal overload is a common cause of
implant failure; however, this may be decreased by fabricating an occlusal splint.
Adjacent teeth should be carefully examined for caries or
the presence of large restorations that may eventually
require crowns. The need for crowns on either side of an
edentulous space may indicate crown and bridge treatment

rather than implant treatment.
D
Both quantitative and qualitative aspects of bone in edentulous regions must be determined. Radiographs are essential to enable all anatomic considerations. Typically, a
panorex film will provide excellent osseous information,
but additional radiographic studies may be required. Tomograms and computerized tomographic scans are often used
to assess the mandible to avoid injuries to the inferior alveolar nerve. Soft tissue should be examined, and the amount
of keratinized tissue should be determined prior to an
implant placement. Soft-tissue grafting may be necessary
and may be initiated either prior to implant placement or
before final restorations are placed.
Even when bone and soft tissue are ideal for implant
placement, small amounts of orthodontic intervention
may be required to achieve optimal esthetics. Orthodontic movement may be necessary if there is a size discrepancy of the edentulous space relative to the other teeth in
Figure 122-1 A, Congenitally missing lateral

incisor space is idealized with orthodontic appliances to improve width and root angulation.
B, The final implant-supported restoration in
place. The soft -tissue architecture is now ideal.
244
Figure 122-2 A, Patient with a large buccal defect in the area of tooth 5. Note very consevative
restoration on tooth 4. B, Chin site providing cortical autogenous bone graft. C, Veneer graft rigidly
fixed in the intended implant site. D, Final restoration with good emergence profile.
Patient MISSING A SINGLE TOOTH
Health issues
If significant health issues

exist, consider removable
partial denture
If patient is healthy,
consider implant or
crown and bridge
Occlusal considerations
Insignificant or
can be managed
Significant
Crown and bridge
Condition of adjacent teeth
Heavily restored or
may require crowns
Adjacent teeth are

in good health and
without esthetic
concerns
Adequate bone
and soft tissue
Bone architecture
Minor augmentation
of ridge required
Graft with autogenous

or alloplastic material
G Extremely deficient
ridge with large defect
Autogenous
bone graft
Implant
the area. Often orthodontic treatment is required to

improve root angulations prior to implant placement
(Figure 122-1).
F
Small augmentations can be achieved using alloplastic material such as demineralized freeze-dried bone. Recently available bioactive peptides show great promise in directing bone
growth in deficient areas.
When large bone defects exist, it is essential to replace missing bone to permit placing the implant in an ideal position.
The most predictable treatment for larger defects is to harvest and place autogenous bone. Typically sites include the
chin and ramus. Bone removed from a donor site vascularizes in the recipient site for 3 months prior to implant place-
ment. It is important to rigidly fix such bone grafts to

ensure optimal healing (Figure 122-2).
Additional Readings
August M, Chung K, Chang Y, Glowacki J. Influence of estrogen status
on endosseous implant osteointegration. J Oral Maxillofac Surg
2001;11:1285.
Loos L, McDonald A. Treatment planning dental implants in the partially edentulous patient. J Calif Dental Assoc 1997;25:852.
Yukna R, Callan D, Krauser J, et al. Multi-center evaluation of combination anorganic bovine-derived hydroxyapatite matrix (ABM)/cell
binding peptide (P15) as a bone replacement graft material in
human periodontal osseous defects: 6-month results. J Periodontol
1998;69:655.
245
123
Soft-Tissue Plastic Surgery around Implants

Roberto Barone, Carlo Clauser, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, and Francesco Cairo
The need for masticatory mucosa around implants is controversial. Clinical and experimental studies have failed to demonstrate
that the lack of masticatory mucosa may jeopardize the long-term
maintenance of dental implants. Nevertheless, an appreciable
band of keratinized tissue around implants is desirable for both
esthetic and hygienic reasons. The need for gingival augmentation (to restore masticatory mucosa) around implants remains
questionable, and, therefore, soft-tissue plastic surgery should be
used infrequently. Where there is a submerged implant, adequate
masticatory mucosa may be obtained in the second surgical session (implant exposure). Before placing a nonsubmerged implant,
however, ensure that there is adequate masticatory mucosa necessary to allow complete soft-tissue closure.
A
The evaluation of the masticatory mucosa at the implant site

is the first step in planning soft-tissue plastic surgery. It
might be necessary to augment the amount of available keratinized tissue as determined by clinical requirements such
as esthetics, easier restorative manipulation, less gingival
recession, and easier plaque control. Correct planning of softtissue management becomes a critical factor for the success
of single-tooth implants in the maxilla anterior segment.
In the maxillary arch, soft-tissue plastic surgery to enhance

masticatory mucosa should be performed at phase 2 surgery
so as not to increase the number of surgical sessions.
In the mandibular arch, augmentation before implant placement might be necessary to obtain a sufficient band of keratinized tissue. The choice to augment is related to the difficulty of obtaining an increase of masticatory mucosa in the
lower arch by means of an apically positioned flap (APF) at
phase 2 surgery. Two millimeters of masticatory mucosa are
considered as a minimum of keratinized tissue. If the existing tissue allows less than 2 mm, an epithelial-free gingival
graft before implant placement may be utilized.
To ensure that a significant width of masticatory mucosa is

available, use two periodontal probes to measure it after the
installation of the implant and before suturing the APF flap.
The first probe is aligned horizontally with the mucogingival junction (MGJ) of the adjacent teeth. The second probe
measures the vertical distance between the buccal bone
margin at the emergence of the implant and the horizontal
probe. If the distance is < 3 mm, an APF is planned for the
implant exposure. If the distance is > 3 mm, gingivectomy
is planned for the phase 2 surgery.
246
The APF may be performed during implant exposure to

allow for an increase of the keratinized tissue. A horizontal
incision is made on the palatal or lingual side of the crest to

preserve the masticatory mucosa over the cover screw. Two
vertical incisions in the alveolar mucosa allow the apical
shift of the flap and implant exposure. The flap is then apically anchored to the periostium.
F
Gingivectomy is performed by removing the masticatory

mucosa over the head of the implant using a circular blade.
Use of this technique is indicated in cases where there is a
wide flat crest with thick tissue.
The thickness of the keratinized tissue is crucial for

esthetics, easier restorative manipulation, easier plaque
control, and the prevention of the gingival recession.
Augmentation of buccal tissue thickness may be performed using a modified Abrams roll technique (MRT).
The flap is elevated from the palate. The palatal portion is
deepithelialized and then inserted between the buccal flap
and the bone crest. Buccal releasing incisions are avoided.
This technique is useful in cases of ridges without need of
soft-tissue augmentation.
Where there is a thin soft-tissue ridge, augmentation may

be achieved using a connective tissue graft (CTG) performed at the time of implant exposure. This procedure
may be performed in combination with an APF or a repositioned flap (RF).
An attempt to recreate papillae adjacent to a maxillary
single-tooth implant may be performed with a modified
flap at phase 2 surgery. A palatal U-shaped flap is dissected
over the implant. Two vertical incisions in the buccal aspect
of the vestibule complete the flap design. After the insertion
of the healing abutment, the flap is splitseparating mesial
and distal pedicles. Then each part of the buccal flap is
secured over the deepithelialized adjacent papillae and
sutured using a vertical mattress suture.
Additional Readings
Barone R, Clauser C, Grassi R, et al. A protocol for maintaining or
increasing the width of masticatory mucosa around submerged
implants: a 1-year prospective study on 53 patients. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1998;18:377.
Berglundh T, Lindhe J, Ericsson I, et al. The soft tissue barrier at
implants and teeth. Clin Oral Implants Res 1991;2:81.
Nemcovsky CE, Moses O, Artzi Z. Interproximal papillae reconstruction
in maxillary implants. J Periodontol 2000;71:308.
Wenstrmm J, Bengazi F, Lekholm U. The influence of the masticatory
mucosa on the periimplant soft tissue condition. Clin Oral Implants
Res 1994;5:1.
Patient to Undergo SOFT-TISSUE PLASTIC SURGERY AROUND IMPLANTS
Is soft tissue augmentation necessary for esthetics or plaque control?
Yes
No
Mandibular
arch
Implant placement
with standard protocol
Maxillary
arch
Assess the amount of

masticatory mucosa
> 2 mm
< 2 mm
Free gingival graft

before implant
No augmentation before
implant placement
Implant placement (phase 1 surgery)
Determine the distance between MGJ

and bone crest to plan phase 2 surgery
> 3 mm
< 3 mm
Plan APF
Plan gingivectomy
or repositioned flap
Phase 2 implant surgery (abutment connection)
Assess thickness
of soft tissue
Thin
Thick
APF
Assess thickness of soft tissue

and width of osseous crest
APF with CTG
Thin soft tissue
Thick soft tissue
Wide bone crest
Gingivectomy
Narrow bone crest
RF with CTG
MRT or RF
247
124
Guided Bone Augmentation for Osseointegrated Implants

William Becker and Burton E. Becker
The principles of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) that have

been used for periodontal regeneration also may be used for
root form dental implants. The tissues involved in the healing of
an extraction socket are flap connective tissue and bone. Membrane barriers may be used to exclude flap connective tissue
from collapsing into an extraction socket that has received an
immediately placed implant, thus allowing the cells necessary
for bone formation access to the area. The barrier creates a space
and protects the clot during the early healing phase, creating an
environment for potential bone formation around the portion
of the implant that is not fully encompassed by bone. A specially
designed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (GoreTex augmentation material) is used for this purpose. The ovalshaped material has a totally occlusive inner portion and a
peripheral portion that allows for the ingrowth of connective
tissue fibrils. The use of guided bone augmentation (GBA) with
osseointegrated implants has been shown successful on a predictable basis.
A
Successful use of GBA for implants placed into extraction

sockets requires careful case selection. Teeth that have
advanced untreatable periodontitis, recurrent endodontic
lesions, or fractures that are not exposable by crown
lengthening are ideal candidates for extraction accompanied by immediate implant placement. To obtain maximal
Figure 124-1 An implant with exposed body knurling covered with a

membrane for guided bone augmentation.
248
implant stability, a minimum of 3 to 5 mm of bone apical to

the root tip should be available. Implants placed into thin
edentulous ridges may result in fenestrations. These defects
may be treated with GBA.
B
When the site is exposed surgically, the type of defect and

site are evaluated and the prospective stability of an implant
or its condition after placement is assessed. If a stable
implant cannot be placed, alternative restorative plans
should be proposed.
Fenestration defects that result from placing the implant

close to the facial surface of the implant may be treated
with GBA. The implant must be completely stable. If the
fenestration exposes only one or two threads, no barrier is
necessary. If a large fenestration is present, exposing three
or more threads of the implant, a barrier should be placed
over the defect for GBA (Figure 124-1).
If an implant has been placed into an extraction socket, an

intra-alveolar defect may exist. If implants are placed into
extremely narrow sockets (as those present on mandibular
anterior teeth) or extremely wide bone and leave no exposure of the implant in the adjacent socket, no GTR is necessary. Defects that are less than 3 mm deep and do not
expose more than three threads may have a barrier placed.
Defects that are more than 3 mm deep and expose more
than three threads should be considered for GBA.
An implant placed into an extraction socket that is missing

one or more bony walls may be treated with GBA. If two
walls cannot be stabilized, the implant should be removed
immediately. Many times, one or two bony walls are partially missing and the implant is stable. This is the ideal
defect in which to use GBA.
If any of the aforementioned defects occur in conjunction

with a narrow ridge, GBA may be used to attempt to augment the width of the ridge.
If barriers are used for implant augmentation, complete flap

closure over the barrier should be obtained before removal; the
barrier occasionally becomes exposed. If a small area becomes
exposed before 30 days, the area may be cleansed by the patient
with chlorhexidine swabs. If the barrier has a large exposed area
and inflammation is present, it should be removed immediately.
Ideally the barrier should remain completely covered until its
removal 4 to 6 weeks after placement.
Allogenic bone and alloplasts used under membranes act as
fillers and do not contribute to osseointegration. Autologous
bone is the best graft material for implant or ridge augmentation.
Patient for an OSSEOINTEGRATED IMMEDIATE IMPLANT
Determine:
Presence of untreatable periodontal or endodontic lesion,
vertical root fracture, 35 mm of bone apical to socket,
adequate bone to anchor an implant
FLAP SURGERY
to expose site
Determine:
Type of defect and site present
Whether a stable implant can be placed
Stable implant
can be placed
Site inadequate for

a stable implant
Remove implant
Determine:
Type of defect or problem present
C Fenestration
defect
Consider:
Number of
threads exposed
1 or 2 threads
exposed
Leave implant
as is and close
> 3 threads
exposed
GBA
Intra-alveolar
defect
Consider:
Number of
walls missing
Narrow, 13 mm
deep; 13 threads
exposed
Leave implant
as is and close
Dehiscence
defect
Consider:
Number of
walls missing
Wide, > 3 mm deep;

> 3 threads exposed
1 or 2 walls
missing; > 3 mm
of implant exposed
GBA
GBA
Ridge too
narrow
GBA
> 2 walls
missing
Remove
implant
Additional Readings
Becker W et al. Bone formation at dehisced dental implant sites treated
with implant augmentation material: a pilot study in dogs. Int J
Periodontics Restorative Dent 1989;9:333.
Becker W et al. Root isolation for new attachment procedures: a surgical
and suturing method: three case reports. J Periodontol 1987;58:819.
Dahlin C et al. Generation of new bone around titanium implants using
a membrane technique: an experimental study in rabbits. Int J Oral
Maxillofac Implants 1989;4:19.
Gottlow J, Nyman S, Lindhe J. New attachment formation as a result of

controlled tissue regeneration. J Clin Periodontol 1984;11:494.
Lazzara RJ. Immediate implant placement into extraction sites: surgical
and restorative advantages. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent
1989;9:333.
Nyman S et al. Bone regeneration adjacent to titanium dental implants
using guided tissue regeneration: a report of two cases. Int J Oral
249
125
Patient with a Single Edentulous Space

Larry G. Loos
Healthy or predictably treatable teeth adjacent to a single

edentulous space are more important to long-term implant
success than is the edentulous site itself. Adjacent teeth
must be capable of carrying a greater incisal-occlusal load
during function and parafunction to prevent implant overload. Crown-to-root ratio, root morphology, tooth mobility,
and sulcus depths are important periodontal considerations. The amount of parafunctional tooth wear must be
correlated with patient age. Endodontically treated teeth
with short dowels or large-diameter cast dowels must be
evaluated for their potential for root fracture.
If one or both of the teeth adjacent to the space are compromised or not predictably treatable to carry a share of
loading, will splinting to the adjacent tooth or teeth create
adequate multiple abutments for a four- or five-unit fixed
partial denture? Periodontal health, control of tooth mobility, and Antes law should be satisfied. If double-abutting
does not provide predictable abutment teeth adjacent to the
space, selective tooth extraction should be considered.
Determine the result of extracting one or both teeth adjacent

to the edentulous space. The new edentulous space will be
larger. The new potential abutment teeth must be evaluated
for their ability to sustain incisal-occlusal loading for each of
the three treatment choices. The quantity of the edentulous
ridge must be evaluated for the vastly different requirements
of a long-span, tooth-supported fixed partial denture (FPD), a
Figure 125-1 A single tooth implant in place. It has no periodontal ligament as teeth do.
250
removable partial denture, or multiple dental implants. The

risk/benefit assessments will be different for each.
D
When both teeth adjacent to the single space have sound

clinical crowns with small or no existing restorations, a single implant should be evaluated as the potential treatment
of choice. If one or both adjacent teeth may benefit from a
full-coverage cast restoration, a three-unit FPD solves both
the missing tooth problem and the restorative needs of the
abutment teeth. Full-coverage cast restorations may
improve tooth esthetics, function, and strength.
The single edentulous space must be evaluated for the maximum length of an implant that it can safely accept. This is
the most important feature of restored implant predictability. A 10 mm implant is the absolute minimum length, a
13 mm length is better, and longer than 13 mm is best. If
10 mm of bone is not present and cannot be obtained by
guided tissue regeneration or augmentation, a three-unit
FPD should be fabricated. The edentulous space must have
adequate width to accommodate the desired implant diameter. Ridge augmentation may be used to create the acceptable width.
Bone quality affects dental implant success. Type II quality

is ideal for single-tooth implants. Type I and type III are frequently acceptable if the implant has good length. Type IV
bone is of poor quality and not recommended for single
teeth. A three-unit FPD is more predictable.
Evaluation of single-tooth implant loading is more crucial

than is loading of four to six splinted implants. An implant
placed in posterior segments receives greater forces than
does an identical implant in the anterior segment. Different
functional positions and contours of the restored implant
and its opposing teeth produce variations in loading. Faciolingual forces created by steep occlusal morphology on posterior teeth are problematic. A single implant protected from
parafunctional loading has a better future than one that is
overloaded. Implants do not have the overload safety feature provided by a periodontal ligament, so they are more
susceptible to overload than are teeth. Minimal loading of
single-tooth implants is highly recommended. Moderateto-extensive loading may compromise success, so a toothsupported FPD would be more predictable (Figure 125-1).
Patient with a SINGLE EDENTULOUS SPACE
Evaluate:
Adjacent natural teeth for their ability
to support occlusal-incisal loading
Compromised:
not predictably
treatable
Healthy or
predictably
treatable
Assess:
The ability of multiple abutments
on one or both sides of the space
to support occlusal-incisal loading
Not predictably
treatable
Cast restoration(s)
not recommended
Predictably
treatable
Tooth-supported
4- or 5-unit FPD
Determine result of extracting one

or all unacceptable abutments
Tooth-supported
4- or 5-unit FPD
RPD
Determine:
Benefit of cast restoration for one
or both teeth adjacent to space
Evaluate edentulous space for

implant length and diameter
Adequate length and

diameter unattainable
Tooth-supported
3-unit FPD
Adequate length/diameter
available or attainable by
augmentation
Tooth-supported
3-unit FPD
Multiple
implants
Cast restoration(s)
recommended
Evaluate edentulous
space for bone quality
Inadequate quality
Tooth-supported
3-unit FPD
Adequate quality
Evaluate loading conditions for

restoration in edentulous space
Moderate/extensive
Minimal
Tooth-supported
3-unit FPD
Implant-supported
single crown
Additional Readings
Branemark PI, Zarb GA, Albrektsson T. Tissue-integrated prostheses.
Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1985. p. 201.
Engelman MJ. Clinical decision making and treatment planning in
osseointegration. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 169.
Jemt T, Lekholm U, Grondahl A. A 3-year follow-up study of early single implant restorations ad modum Branemark. Int J Periodontics
Misch CE. Contemporary implant dentistry. St. Louis: Mosby; 1993. p. 164,
175, 575.
Shillingburg HT et al. Fundamentals of fixed prosthodontics. 3rd ed.
251
126
Multiple Single Implants or Implants as Abutments

Larry G. Loos
Decisions regarding implant placement in the partially

edentulous patient must not be based solely on the edentulous site. The location, condition, and function of the
remaining natural teeth are important in determining the
fixed prosthodontic treatment plan. Problematic teeth must
be identified and included in the treatment. The mentality
of see a space, place an implant does not contribute to
predictable long-term success.
The periodontal status of the remaining natural teeth is

important whether consideration is being given to toothsupported fixed partial denture (FPD) abutments, teethopposing implants, teeth adjacent to implants, or teeth
located remote distances from implants in the same or
opposing arch. Remaining teeth contribute directly or indirectly to the forces delivered to the implant(s). Crown-toroot ratio, root morphology, tooth mobility, and wear are
necessary determinants for present restorative design and
future prognosis.
Functional incisal loading may be categorized by the static

anterior tooth position in maximal intercuspation and its
contact relationship during right lateral, left lateral, and
protrusive mandibular excursions. Ideally the functional
horizontal overlap (ie, the distance between the maxillary
lingual surface and mandibular facial surface) should be
less than 1 mm. Facial or lingual loading forces then
depend on vertical overlap (ie, the distance between the
maxillary incisal surface and mandibular incisal surface).
Minimal loading forces are created by vertical overlap of
0 to 2 mm. Moderate loading forces result from 3 to 5 mm
of vertical overlap, and extensive loading forces result from
6 mm or greater overlap. Parafunctional incisal loading is
potentially more damaging because the amount of force is
greater and the duration of load is longer.
Parafunctional loading of occlusal surfaces has even
greater significance because maximal biting forces are
much greater on posterior teeth than they are on anterior
teeth. Minimal loading forces are produced by light centric
contacts and the absence of incline contact during excursive
movements. Solid centric contacts and the presence of
incline contact on shallow occlusal morphology produce
moderate loading forces. Extensive loading forces are created
by heavy centric contacts and the presence of incline contact on steep occlusal morphology.
252
The mesiodistal dimension of the edentulous space is the

first consideration in determining the number of implants.
A minimum distance of 2 mm must exist between adjacent restored implants as they emerge through soft tissue
for predictable soft-tissue health to be maintained. By
knowing the diameter of each restored implant, the dentist may calculate the maximum number of implants for
a specific edentulous span. The actual number of
implants recommended for the space may be determined
by evaluating implant length and diameter, bone quality,
and implant loading. Implant length is the single most
predictable factor in success rates. Larger implant diameters may compensate for shorter implants. Bone quality is
determined from radiographs and surgical assessment.
Type I and type II are good quality, type III is mediocre,
and type IV is poor quality. Implant loading is affected by
the anteroposterior location of the restoration, functional
contours of the restoration with its opposing surfaces, and
the degree and duration of parafunction. A thorough
evaluation of these loading conditions produces categories
of loading described as minimal, moderate, or extensive.
Unfavorable conditions for implants include short length
implants (less than 10 mm), poor bone quality (type IV),
and extensive loading. Neutral conditions for implants are
average length (10 to 13 mm), average bone quality
(type III), and moderate loading. Favorable conditions
include long implants (15 mm or longer), good quality
bone (type I or II), and minimal loading.
Additional Readings
Branemark PI, Zarb GA, Albrektsson T. Tissue-integrated prostheses.
Engelman MJ. Clinical decision making and treatment planning in
osseointegration. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1996. p. 169.
Kaukinen JA, Edge MJ, Lang BR. The influence of occlusal design on
simulated masticatory forces transferred to implant-retained prostheses and supporting bone. J Prosthet Dent 1996;76:50.
Misch CE. Contemporary implant dentistry. St. Louis: Mosby; 1993.
p. 164, 705.
Swanberg DF, Henry MD. Avoiding implant overload. Implant Society
1995;6(1):124.
Weinberg LA, Krugar B. Biomechanical considerations when combining
tooth-supported and implant-supported prostheses. Oral Surg Oral
Med Oral Pathol 1994;78(1):6227.
Patient with MULTIPLE SINGLE IMPLANTS OR IMPLANTS AS ABUTMENTS
Assess:
Periodontal status of anterior teeth
Healthy or
predictably treatable
Tooth-supported
anterior fixed FPD
Assess:
Periodontal status of posterior teeth
Severely compromised:
not predictably treatable
Determine:
Functional and parafunctional
incisal loading
Adequate abutments
for edentulous space(s)
Evaluate:
Remaining teeth of patient
who is partially edentulous
Healthy or
predictably treatable
Extract teeth and evaluate

edentulous space(s)
Determine:
Functional and parafunctional
occlusal loading
Inadequate tooth abutments

Inadequate tooth abutments

D Determine:
Number of implants for edentulous space(s)
Adequate abutments
Tooth-supported
anterior FPD
Favorable conditions
Neutral conditions
Unfavorable conditions
Two implant abutments

for implant supported
3- or 4-unit FPD
One implant for each

missing tooth
Adjacent implants splinted
or as individual units
Two implants for each missing

molar and one implant for
each additional missing tooth
All adjacent implants are
splinted together
253
127
Maintenance of Implant-Supported Restorations

Carrie Berkovich
Placement of endosseous implants has become an option in

comprehensive periodontal treatment planning for both fully
and partially edentulous patients. Benefits of implant-supported
restorations include ease of maintenance (unlike fixed bridgework), more conservative restorations that do not depend on
adjacent teeth for support, and (often) better esthetic outcome.
Following restoration with dental implants, maintenance of
implant-supported prosthesis becomes a necessary and regular
part of the periodontal maintenance visit.
There are several types of endosseous dental implant systems currently available. They include a range of sizes, shapes,
coatings, and prosthetic components. Implant shape is usually a
screw-type or cylindrical press-fit design. A threaded screw-type
implant may provide additional surface for bonding, and therefore increased support, than a press-fit implant. The implant surface further affects the long-term fixation and stability of the
implant. Surface modifications of implants include a roughened
surface (acid-etched or grit-blasted), microgrooved or plasmasprayed titanium, and hydroxyapatite coatings.
A
254
Just as natural teeth may be affected by periodontal disease,

dental implants may develop periimplantitis, which is caused
by the same type of bacteria as periodontitis. Patients with
implants must be evaluated at regular visits for periodontal
maintenance procedures and any clinical signs, and symptoms of periimplantitis must be recorded and treated. Clinical signs of periodontitis include radiographic bone loss
around implant fixture, inflamed periimplant gingival margin, and suppuration. Periimplantitis can be treated using
both surgical and nonsurgical techniques. However, when
an implant becomes mobile, the implant is a failure and

must be removed.
B
Maintenance programs for implant-supported restorations

are designed on an individual basis. Current recommendations include the following:
Frequent maintenance visits (34 times/yr)
Use of plastic probes and curets or gold-tipped curets
around implant-supported restorations
Avoidance of ultrasonic and steel curet instrumentations
around implants
Rubber-cup polishing using a fine abrasive paste or polishing using air-powdered abrasives
Patient home care procedures that may include topical
chemotherapeutic agents (Listerine, chlorhexidine, or fluoride mouth rinses), dental tape, dental floss, interproximal brushes (proxi-brushes), and end-tuft brushes
Although it is presumed that application of chemical
agents such as citric acid and antibiotics can reduce adsorbed
bacteria, the clinical significance of these procedures has not
yet been determined. These procedures may require a surgical access based on the judgment of the clinician.
Additional Readings
American Academy of Periodontology. Dental implants in periodontal
therapy. J Periodontol 2000;71:1934.
Klokkevold PR, Newman MG. Current status of dental implants: a periodontal perspective. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2000;15:56.
Patient with IMPLANT-SUPPORTED RESTORATIONS
Determine if implant is healthy, failing, or failed
Healthy
Professional
maintenance
Supportive periodontal
therapy every 34 months
Failing
Home care
Brushing
Flossing
Interproximal brushes
Oral rinses
Refer to a
specialist
Failed (mobile implant)
Surgical
removal
Nonsurgical treatment
Surgical implant repair
Plastic or gold-tipped
instruments
Rubber-cup polishing
255
128
Periimplantitis: Etiology of the Ailing, Failing,

or Failed Dental Implant
The discipline of implant dentistry has gained clinical acceptance because of long-term studies that suggest very high success and survival rates in both partially and completely edentulous applications; however, in a small percentage of cases,
implant failure and morbidity have been reported. Implant failure as a result of surgical overheating of bone has been minimized with the advent of slow-speed, high-torque internally
(and often externally) irrigated drilling systems. After integration (either biointegration or osseointegration) has taken place,
the major cause of implant failure is thought to be the biomechanics (ie, overload, heavy lateral interferences, lack of a
passive prosthesis fit) or infection (plaque induced).
Complications may be eliminated or minimized if clinicians
plan treatment adequately. Mounted study models with diagnostic wax-ups or tooth set-ups are mandatory to evaluate ridge
relationships, occlusal schemes, and restorative goals. Using
adequate radiographs and clinical examination, the implant
team (restoring dentist, surgeon, and laboratory technician) can
adequately plan for the location, number, and trajectory of
implants to ensure the most healthy esthetic and functional
prosthesis. Often additional implants may be proposed to satisfy
the implant team and patient requirements (eg, fixed versus
removable prostheses). The final restoration should be one that
is esthetic, is adequately engineered (enough implants of sufficient length in sufficient quality and quantity of supporting
bone), and gives the patient accessibility for adequate home
care. When evaluating the ailing or failing implant, often one or
more of the aforementioned criteria have not been met.
A
256
In referring to a dental implant as ailing, failing, or failed,

the dentist really is referring to the status of the periimplant
supporting tissues (unless the implant is fractured). An ailing implant displays progressive bone loss and pocketing,
but no clinical mobility. A failing implant displays features
similar to the ailing implant, but is refractory to therapy
and continues to become worse. This implant also is immobile. The term ailing suggests a somewhat more favorable
prognosis than the term failing.
A failed implant is one that is fractured, has been totally
refractory to all methods of treatment, or demonstrates
clinical mobility or circumferential periimplant radiolucency. These implants must be removed immediately,
because progressive destruction of surrounding osseous tissues may occur.
The etiology of periimplant disease often is multifactorial.
Many times the clinician must do detective work to discover the etiology. Meffert (1996) has coined the terms traditional and retrograde pathways in differentiating bacterial
versus biomechanic etiologies.
Although a hemidesmosomal attachment of soft tissues to

titanium has been reported, this histologic phenomenon
probably does not have clinical relevance around titanium
implant abutments. The periimplant seal is thought to originate from a tight adaptation of mucosal tissues around the
abutment through an intricate arrangement of circular gingival fibers and a tight junctional epithelium. Because this
attachment is tenuous at best, a plaque-induced (traditional pathway) periimplant gingivitis may not truly exist
and plaque-induced inflammation of periimplant tissues may
directly extend to the underlying supporting osseous tissues.
The periodontal ligament acts as a shock absorber
around the natural tooth when excessive occlusal or orthodontic forces are present. In the absence of bacterial plaque,
occlusal trauma does not cause a loss of attachment to
teeth; however, because implants lack a periodontal ligament, force may be transmitted to the implant or bone
interface. If significant enough, microfractures of this interface may occur and allow for an ingress of soft tissues and
secondary bacterial infection.
In fixed bridgework that does not fit passively and is
cemented on natural teeth, orthodontic movement of abutments occurs because of the presence of the periodontal ligament. In this scenario, little if any damage occurs around
abutments because of this orthodontic movement. If this
same phenomenon occurs on dental implant abutments
(either screw retained or cemented), one of a few complications may result. The restoration may become loose as a
result of cement failure, screws backing out, or fracture.
Abutments may loosen or fracture, or the implant body
may fracture or have bone loss because of progressive
microfractures at the interface (retrograde pathway); therefore, frameworks must fit precisely. Lateral interferences or
excessive off-axis loading have led to greater stresses on
components and the implant-bone interface and should be
minimized. Bruxism may be extremely destructive and
should be addressed by modifying occlusal schemes to eliminate lateral contacts in function or parafunction; alternatively the patient should commit to permanent splint or
night guard treatment before placement of the implant. In
some instances, a removable prosthesis may be fashioned to
address this concern.
Clinical signs of periimplant problems in the ailing or failing

implant include increased probing depths, bleeding on probing,
suppuration, erythema and flaccidity of tissues, and radiographically evident bone loss. Pain may be present, but usually it is a late
symptom. If plaque is absent with minimally inflamed tissues, the
dentist must suspect occlusal etiology. Often this may be confirmed with culture and sensitivity testing. If bacteria associated
Patient with INCREASING PROBING DEPTHS AND BONE LOSS
Determine:
Whether the implant is loose
Not mobile
Mobile
Broken
component
Mechanical
failure
Failed
cementation
Replace
component
Retrofit or
refabricate
prosthesis
Assess:
Mechanical causes of mobility
No reparable
mechanical
failure
Loose
component
Failed
implant
extract
Assess:
Framework fit
(must be passive)
Recement
or rescrew
restoration
Section
bridge and
resolder
Ailing or failing
implanttreat
with gingival health are present (eg, Streptococcus sp or Actinomyces

sp), an occlusal component is strongly suggested. If, however,
periodontal pathogens (eg, P. gingivalis, P. intermedius) are present,
the dentist should have a high suspicion for periimplant infection.
This is not to say that an occlusal component may not also be present. Inspect restorations for fit. A loose restoration is always bad
news. Remove and evaluate each component until the loose or
failed component is found. If the implant is loose, it is a failure
and should be removed immediately. It will never reintegrate and
be functional. Replacement implants may be placed either at the
time of implant removal or within 6 months of implant removal,
and various regenerative techniques may be contemplated to
maintain alveolar height and width.
Additional Readings
Meffert R. Periodontitis vs peri-implantitis. The same disease? The same
treatment? Br Rev Oral Biol Med 1996;7:278.
Meffert R, Block M, Kent J. What is osseointegration? Int J Periodontics
Restorative Dent 1987;11(2):88.
Newman M, Fleming T. Periodontal considerations of implants and
implant associated microbiota. J Dent Educ 1988;52:737.
Rosenberg E, Torosian J, Slots J. Microbial differences in 2 distinct types
of failures of osseointegrated implants. Clin Oral Implant Res
1991;2:135.
257
129
Periimplantitis: Initial Therapy

for the Ailing or Failing Dental Implant
perform home care because movable alveolar mucosal margins may be irritating and cause difficulty in effecting oral
hygiene. Increased failures of implants and morbidity have
been associated with areas deficient in attached keratinized
gingival tissues. Soft-tissue augmentation procedures may
be performed either before implant placement, during integration, at uncovering (stage 2), or for repair procedures.
A differential diagnosis should be made as early as possible in the

initial stages of implant therapy because such information may
be crucial in the follow-up and maintenance of the ailing or failing implant. If an accurate assessment of the etiology has not
been established, interceptive therapy may be compromised.
A
Effective patient-performed plaque control is mandatory,

and the patient must accept this responsibility. The therapist should customize a hygiene regimen for each implant
patient. The use of conventional oral hygiene aids (ie, brush,
floss) may be augmented with any number of instruments
(eg, Superfloss, yarn, plastic-coated proxibrushes, electric
toothbrushes). If the patients oral hygiene is suspect, the
addition of a topical application of chemotherapeutics
(eg, chlorhexidine), either by rinsing or applying locally
(using a dipping brush), may be beneficial in maintenance.
The restorative dentist must give the patient access to
implant abutments circumferentially to ensure hygiene.
Evaluate occlusion and eliminate centric and lateral prematurities and interferences with occlusal adjustment. Initiate
night guard or splint therapy if parafunctional activity is
suspected. Often the clinician can remove the prosthesis
and place healing cuffs on the implants in hopes of getting
a positive response by reducing the load if occlusal etiology
is suspected. Single implants that are attached to mobile
natural teeth may be overloaded as a result of compression
and subsequent relative cantilevering of the prosthesis from
the implant. If occlusal etiology is suspected in this case,
contemplate the attachment of more implants to the existing weakened implant to support the cantilever of periodontally weak teeth. If the dentist suspects bacterial etiology, initial conservative treatment may consist of
subgingival irrigation with a blunt-tipped, side-port irrigating needle. Chlorhexidine is the irrigant of choice. Local
application of tetracycline using monolithic fibers may be
an effective adjunct.
Perform culture and sensitivity testing to guide therapy if a

course of systemic antibiotics is planned. Consider dbridement of hyperplastic periimplant tissues using hand or
ultrasonic plastic (if the implant or abutment is going to be
touched) instrumentation.
258
Ideally the implant abutment should emerge through

attached keratinized mucosa. This gives the patient an ideal
mucosa. It also gives the patient an ideal environment to
Consider reevaluation of periimplant tissues 2 to 4 weeks

after initial therapy. Probing depths should be reduced, and
no bleeding or suppuration should occur on probing. The
clinician must decide whether the improvement in clinical
indices is a predictable long-term end point. The dentist also
must remember that the success of periodontal therapy
depends on the therapists ability to remove plaque, calculus, and other bacterial products from radicular surfaces.
Because root planing the implant surfaces is neither possible nor recommended (because of the detrimental effects
of conventional curets and ultrasonics), the dentist must
consider that the titanium abutment or hydroxyapatitecoated titanium implant surface is contaminated with bacteria and their products (ie, endotoxins). Therefore, the
dentist must conclude that the implant and periimplant tissues will benefit from surgical intervention.
If the therapist feels that a successful end point has been
attained, close maintenance with monitoring of clinical, radiographic, and microbiologic parameters is imperative. If
problems recur promptly, the dentist must question either
the initial diagnosis (incorrect etiology) or the predictability
of more conservative nonsurgical therapy. In this instance,
the clinician should strive to stabilize or arrest the active disease process nonsurgically, then reevaluate to determine a
clinical end point. Commonly, cases that are refractory to
nonsurgical therapy do well after surgical intervention
because the contaminated implant surface may be addressed
more adequately during surgery.
Additional Readings
Gammage D, Bowman A, Meffert R. Clinical management of failing
dental implants: four case reports. J Oral Implants 1989;15:124.
Kwan J. Implant maintenance. J Calif Dent Assoc 1991;19(12):45.
Kwan J, Zablotsky M. The ailing implant. J Calif Dent Assoc 1991;
19(12):51.
Orton G, Steele D, Wolinsky L. The dental professionals role in monitoring and maintenance of tissue-integrated prostheses. Int J Oral
Patient with an AILING OR FAILING IMPLANT
Assess:
Etiology of problem (bacterial or biomechanic)
Reinstruct in
plaque control
Improve hygiene access

(modify prosthesis)
Bacterial
Culture and
sensitivity
Occlusal
Splint therapy if
parafunctional
problem
Adjust
interferences
Antimicrobial therapy
(local or systemic) with
nonsurgical dbridement
Prosthetic
modification or
reconstruction
Assess:
Mucogingival adequacy
Inadequate
gingiva
SURGERY
(implant repair)
Reevaluation
Maintenance
259
130
Periimplantitis:
Surgical Management of Implant Repair
The surgical repair of the ailing or failing implant depends on an

accurate diagnosis and effective nonsurgical intervention to stabilize or arrest the progression of the active periimplant lesion.
A
The dentist must assess the mucogingival status of periimplant tissues before repair surgery. If mucogingival
defects exist only around the ailing or failing implant, subsequent osseous repair surgery may not be necessary if softtissue augmentation is performed around the ailing or failing implant. If indicated, osseous repair surgery on
keratinized tissues is less technically demanding.
Modifications of periodontal surgical procedures, either resective or regenerative, have been reported with some success.
After making the initial incisions and degranulating the
osseous defect (open dbridement), the dentist must evaluate
the defect before selecting the appropriate surgical modality.
Periimplant osseous defects that are predominantly horizontal in nature respond most predictably to resective procedures (ie, definitive osseous surgery) with or without fixture modification.
Fixture modification is performed to remove macroscopic or

microscopic features that interfere with subsequent plaque
control in the supracrestal aspect of the defect. Fixture modification consists of smoothing with a series of rotary instruments in descending grit (ie, fine diamond, white stone,
rubber points) and using copious irrigation because these
instruments may generate significant heat. Some clinicians
concerned about contaminating implant surfaces or periimplant tissues with rotary instruments have reported a
healthy soft-tissue response against hydroxyapatite-coated
or plasma-sprayed titanium implant surfaces. If the patients
oral hygiene is suspect, consider fixture modification for
these microscopically rough surfaces.
Regenerative proceduresbone grafting with or without

guided tissue regeneration (GTR)have been reported for
the repair of the ailing or failing implant. Regenerative procedures are most appropriate if the adjacent osseous crest is
close to the rim of the implant (ie, narrow two- or threewalled moat, dehiscence or fenestration defects) (Figures
130-1 through 130-3). If the dentist is considering these
procedures, fixture modification is not recommended.
Detoxification procedures to treat the infected implant surface are recommended before regenerative modalities. A
30-second to 1-minute application of a supersaturated solution of citric acid (pH 1) burnished with a cotton pledget may
be beneficial in detoxifying the infected hydroxyapatitecoated implant surface. If the coating appears pitted and
altered, however, the coating should be removed either
with ultrasonic or air/powder abrasives. A short application
of an air/powder abrasive detoxifies the titanium implant
surface. Extreme caution is recommended if the defect to be
treated with the air/powder abrasive is a narrow intrabony
Figure 130-2 The defect surgically exposed prior to ePTFE membrane

placement.
Figure 130-1 Preoperative radiograph of an ailing implant prior to

guided bone augmentation repair.
260
Figure 130-3 Six months after guided bone augmentation, the defect is
filled with hard tissue.
Patient with an AILING OR FAILING IMPLANT AND SURGERY INDICATED
Assess:
Mucogingival status
Inadequate
attached gingiva
Adequate
attached gingiva
GINGIVAL
AUGMENTATION
OPEN
DBRIDEMENT
Fixture preparation
Cleaning and detoxification
Assess:
Defect morphology
Horizontal bone loss or

wide one-walled defect
APICALLY POSITIONED
FLAPS
defect or moatlike defect
Combined
Fixture modifications
therapy
Dehiscence defect
Two- or three-walled defect
GUIDED BONE
AUGMENTATION
Fixture detoxification
Select resorbable or
nonresorbable graft material
Maintenance and monitoring
defect because pressurized air may enter the marrow spaces

and produce a risk of embolism.
G
Combined
OSSEOUS
GRAFTING
therapy
The choice of bone-grafting materials should be based on

the clinicians level of certainty that the site to be grafted is
free of bacterial contaminants. If the clinician is certain that
the defect is not contaminated, resorbable materials such as
autogenous bone, detoxified freeze-dried bone allograph,
resorbable hydroxyapatite, or GTR materials may be considered. If the surface of the implant is suspect, nonresorbable materials, for example, dense nonresorbable
hydroxyapatite) should be considered. Use nonresorbable
bone-grafting materials to obturate apical vents and basket
holes because osseous regeneration probably will not occur
in these anatomically contaminated environments.
Contemplate combined therapies whenever defect combinations include horizontal bone loss and dehiscence or
intrabony defects. Postoperative care is much like that for
periodontal surgical procedures, with close follow-up and
reevaluation before the patient is placed back on a supportive maintenance schedule.
The goals of periimplant surgical and nonsurgical therapies
are to reestablish a healthy perimucosal seal and regenerate a
soft- or hard-tissue attachment to the implant and abutment.
This requires a definitive diagnosis, comprehensive therapy,
and effective maintenance. At this time, no prospective or retrospective studies exist examining the short- or long-term
results attained through implant repair procedures; therefore
close follow-up for recurrence of disease is warranted.
Although the goals of therapy are clear, the clinician must be
willing to accept and recognize failure if it occurs. The dental
implant that is refractory to all attempts at treatment is a failure and should be removed as soon as this diagnosis is made.
Additional Readings
Lozada J et al. Surgical repair of peri-implant defects. J Oral Implant
1990;16:42.
Meffert R. How to treat ailing and failing implants. Implant Dent
1992;1:25.
Meffert R. Periodontitis vs peri-implantitis: the same disease? The same
treatment? Br Rev Oral Biol Med 1996;7:278.
Zablotsky M. The surgical management of osseous defects associated
with endosteal hydroxylapatite-coated and titanium dental
implants. Dent Clin North Am 1992;36(1):117.
Zablotsky M, Diedrich D, Meffert R. The ability of various chemotherapeutic agents to detoxify the endotoxin-contaminated titanium
implant surface. Implant Dent. [In press]
Zablotsky M et al. The ability of various chemotherapeutic agents to
detoxify the endotoxin infected HA-coated implant surface. Int J
Oral Maxillofac Implants 1991;8(2):45.
261
PART 14
ESTHETICS IN PERIODONTICS
131 Surgery and Esthetic Concerns
Walter B. Hall
132 Esthetic and Periodontically Involved Maxillary Anterior Teeth
Edward P. Allen
133 Esthetic Evaluation of Patients with a High Lip Line
Edward P. Allen
134 Esthetics and Gingival Augmentation
Edward P. Allen
135 Esthetics: Periodontal and Restorative Aspects of Smile Design
Ian Van Zyl
136 Esthetics: Maxillary Lip Line
Ian Van Zyl
137 Esthetics: Free Gingival Margin Contour
Ian Van Zyl
138 Esthetics: Proportions of the Teeth
Ian Van Zyl
131
Surgery and Esthetic Concerns

Walter B. Hall
Before undertaking a surgical solution to a periodontal problem,

two types of ensuing esthetic concerns need to be discussed with
the patient: one is, in certain areas, root exposure might be an
unsightly consequence of periodontal surgery; the second is that
ridge resorption after tooth extraction may create a grotesque
form. These problems are most likely to occur in the maxillary
anterior, premolar, and, occasionally, first molar areas. A surgical procedure in these areas therefore may be a therapeutic success but an esthetic disaster. This result may not be acceptable to
the patient, and so discussion to obtain informed (even if
unwritten) consent prior to treatment is necessary.
A
What the dentist considers to be a potential esthetic problem

may not be a problem to the patient. If an informed patient
is not bothered by potential esthetic problems, the dentist
should select the best procedure to accomplish therapeutic
goals without the restrictions that esthetic concerns entail
(eg, pocket elimination may be the objective with no concomitant concern for the unsightliness of exposed roots).
If the patient does perceive esthetics to be an important
concern, the dentist must select a treatment approach that
will yield both an esthetic and a therapeutic result.
Surgery may create esthetic problems when root exposure

is the result in readily visible areas of the mouth. Ridge
inadequacy may be created by extracting a tooth. Both the
problem of root exposure and the problem of ridge inadequacy can be remedied.
If the roots of the teeth in the surgical segment are round,

and the pocket depths are not large enough to be inacces-
262
sible to planing, maintenance with root planing alone (and

no surgical exposure) best meets the esthetic and therapeutic goals of both patient and dentist.
E
If the roots of the teeth in the surgical segment contain flutings or furcation involvements, or the pockets are so deep
as to be inaccessible for planing, the type of surgery to
employ depends on the nature of the osseous defects. If
there is only horizontal bone loss and it is not severe, or if
vertical defects (but not bone loss) are present, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) provides a reasonable approach
with which to meet the esthetic and therapeutic goals of
the patient and the dentist. If horizontal bone loss is great,
extractions followed by implants should be considered.
If the esthetic problem is one of ridge inadequacy that

would compromise the esthetics of a planned restoration,
ridge augmentation is an option that should be offered to
the patient (see Chapter 115).
Additional Readings
Allen EP et al. Improved technique for localized ridge augmentation: a
report of 21 cases. J Periodontol 1985;56:195.
Febiger; 1989. p. 500.
Seibert J. Reconstruction of deformed partially edentulous ridges using
full-thickness grafts: technique and wound healing. Compend
Cont Educ Dent 1983;4:437.
Patient with a POTENTIAL ESTHETIC PROBLEM
Discuss with patient:

Potential esthetic problem
Patient perceives
no esthetic problem
Dentist selects therapeutic

approach without regard to
possible esthetic concerns
Patient perceives
possible esthetic problem
Dentist selects most esthetic

approach with reasonable
therapeutic compromises
Determine:
Is the potential problem one of unsightly
root exposure following periodontal
surgery or one of ridge inadequacy?
Teeth have rounded roots

Pockets are accessible for
planning
Avoid surgery
Manage with regular root planing
Ridge
inadequacy
Determine:
Nature of root accessibility
RIDGE
AUGMENTATION
Teeth have roots with flutings

or furcation involvements or
Roots inaccessible for planing
Determine:
Type of osseous defects present
Vertical osseous defects
EXTRACTIONS
and IMPLANTS
GTR
263
132
Esthetic and Periodontically Involved

Maxillary Anterior Teeth
Edward P. Allen
compromised to an extent that is unacceptable to the

patient. Two options to improve esthetics at this point are
prosthetic therapy or removal of the teeth with ridge
preservation and augmentation therapy, where required,
followed by prosthetic therapy.
Treatment of periodontal disease in the maxillary anterior segment may lead to esthetic problems in some patients because of
the destructive nature of the disease process. To avoid results that
are dissatisfying to the patient, a careful evaluation of esthetic
considerations should be part of periodontal treatment planning.
A
264
First, perform an evaluation of the patients smile to determine whether papillary or marginal gingiva is exposed. If
the patient has no gingival exposure, optimal periodontal
therapy may be provided without concern for esthetics. If a
high lip line with gingival exposure is evident, periodontal
therapy may adversely affect esthetics.
The potential esthetic impact of periodontal therapy must
be discussed with the patient. If the patient is unconcerned
with the possible effects, appropriate periodontal therapy
may be provided. If the patient is concerned with esthetics,
a conservative approach is indicated. This may be accomplished by root dbridement through a closed approach followed by an evaluation of response to treatment.
Even in moderate-to-severe cases in which disease is
controlled by a conservative approach, esthetics may be
In cases in which closed dbridement has controlled the disease, and esthetics are acceptable, the patient may be placed
on a systematic maintenance program.
If the disease has not been controlled by the initial conservative therapy, a surgical approach, including regenerative
therapy, open flap dbridement, or pocket-elimination
therapy, is indicated. Surgical therapy would be followed by
prosthetic evaluation and therapy as needed for esthetics.
Additional Readings
Patient with PERIODONTAL DISEASE INVOLVING THE MAXILLARY ANTERIOR TEETH
Determine:
Evaluation of smile
High lip line with

gingival exposure
Determine:
Discuss esthetic impact
of periodontal therapy
with patient
Patient not concerned by

esthetic consequences
Patient is concerned by
esthetic consequences
Provide appropriate
periodontal therapy
ROOT DBRIDEMENT
by closed approach
Low lip line with no

gingival exposure
Periodontal therapy will not

have an impact on esthetics
Assess:
Evaluate response
Disease controlled
Esthetics not acceptable
Disease controlled
Esthetics acceptable
Disease not controlled
Maintenance therapy
REMOVE TEETH with
RIDGE PRESERVATION
PROCEDURE
Prosthetic
Therapy
Regeneration
therapy
OPEN FLAP
DBRIDEMENT
POCKETELIMINATION
THERAPY
Evaluation for
prosthetic therapy
265
133
Esthetic Evaluation of Patients with a High Lip Line

Edward P. Allen
Before surgery, the position and thickness of the marginal

bone must be determined by sounding with a periodontal
probe. If the bony crest is thick or located at the CEJ, flap
and osseous surgery is required to expose the anatomic
crown completely. If the margin is thin and approximately
2 mm apical to the CEJ, excision of the marginal tissue during internal or external gingivectomy is indicated, provided
adequate dimensions of gingiva remain postsurgically. If
the gingival dimensions will still be inadequate, crown
lengthening by flap surgery is required.
When a patient comes to the practitioner with an esthetic concern because of a high lip line or gummy smile, a careful
evaluation is indicated. In many cases this problem can be
treated by surgical exposure of more tooth length, as the sole
treatment or as a finishing procedure orthognathic therapy.
The first step in the esthetic evaluation is a determination of
clinical crown length.
A
266
If the clinical crown length is normal, evaluate the patient

for possible vertical maxillary excess (VME). If VME is not
present, the gummy smile may be caused by excessive
muscle activity or a short upper lip, and no treatment is indicated. If VME is present, orthognathic surgery is indicated.
If the clinical crown length is less than normal, evaluate the
patient for VME. If VME is present, evaluate the patient for
orthognathic surgery. After this evaluation, or if no VME is
evident, determine the length of the anatomic crown by
probing for the subgingival location of the cementoenamel
junction (CEJ) on the facial aspect of the teeth.
If the anatomic crown is incompletely exposed, surgical
crown lengthening to the level of the CEJ is indicated.
In some patients with short clinical crowns, the anatomic

crown also is short and may already be completely exposed.
Such patients may be treated by flap and osseous surgery
for tooth lengthening, but they must then be treated prosthetically to achieve an esthetic result.
Additional Readings
Bell WH. Modern practice in orthognathic and reconstructive surgery.
Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1991.
Patient with HIGH LIP LINE
Determine:
Evaluation of clinical crown length
Normal clinical
crown length
Short clinical
crown length
Determine:
Evaluation for VME
Absent
Present
Present
Absent
No treatment
ORTHOGNATHIC
SURGICAL
THERAPY
ORTHOGNATHIC
SURGICAL
THERAPY
Determine length
of anatomic crown
Incomplete
exposure
Determine:
Position and thickness
of marginal bone
Complete
exposure
FLAP and OSSEOUS

SURGERY for CROWN
LENGTHENING
Thick margin
at CEJ level
Thin margin with

normal location
FLAP and OSSEOUS SURGERY

for COMPLETE EXPOSURE OF
ANATOMIC CROWN
Evaluate gingival
dimensions
Inadequate
Adequate
APICALLY
POSITIONED
FLAP
INTERNAL or
EXTERNAL
GINGIVECTOMY
PROSTHETIC
THERAPY
267
134
Esthetics and Gingival Augmentation

Edward P. Allen
In determining the need for a gingival grafting procedure, the

practitioner must evaluate several factors before deciding
whether treatment is needed. If treatment is needed, the practitioner must assess whether the procedure selected will be for root
coverage or for gingival augmentation without root coverage.
A
268
The practitioner must determine the presence of gingival

recession, recording the distance from the gingival margin
to the cementoenamel junction and the classification of
recession. This decision tree applies to Miller Class I and
Class II recession. Complete root coverage is predictable
only in these classifications in which no loss of interdental
bone or soft tissue occurs.
The need for certain dimensions of gingiva for the prevention of recession remains controversial. However, the
observation of progressive recession is generally accepted as
an indication of a need to increase the width and thickness
of marginal tissue. Also, in certain clinical situations,
including orthodontic therapy and the placement of subgingival restoration margins, a need to increase the gingival
dimension to prevent recession may be evident.
The esthetic impact of recession is most often seen in the
maxillary arch and includes the incisors, canines, premolars,
and occasionally molars. In patients with high lip lines, recession in the maxillary arch requires root-cover grafting to
restore a natural appearance. This is particularly important in
patients who are having restorative procedures performed in
this area. The normal form of the tooth and proper harmony
with adjacent teeth should be corrected by treating the recession before performing the restorative procedures.
D
Root sensitivity may be treated in a variety of ways. In sites

in which complete root coverage can be achieved, it may be
the most desirable procedure. Areas of root exposure with
shallow caries and shallow restorations also can be treated
using root-cover grafting.
Additional Readings
Miller PD Jr. A classification of marginal tissue recession. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1985;5:9.
Pini-Prato GP et al. Periodontal regeneration therapy with coverage of
previously restored root surfaces: a two case report. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1992;12:451.
Wennstrm JL et al. Some periodontal tissue reactions to orthodontic
tooth movement in monkeys. J Clin Periodontol 1987;14:121.
Patient with PERIODONTAL DISEASE INVOLVING THE MAXILLARY ANTERIOR TEETH
Determine:
Presence or absence of gingival recession
Recession present
Recession absent
B Determine:
Adequacy of gingival dimensions
Adequate
Inadequate
Adequate
Inadequate
No treatment
C Determine:
Esthetic impact
No esthetic impact
Esthetic impact
Determine:
Root sensitivity
Root not sensitive
Follow up for possible

future progression
No esthetic impact
Root sensitive
Determine:
Root sensitivity
Root sensitive
ROOT-COVERAGE
PROCEDURE INDICATED
Root not sensitive
ROOT-COVERAGE
PROCEDURE INDICATED
269
135
Esthetics: Periodontal and Restorative Aspects

of Smile Design
Ian Van Zyl
Smile design involves the lips, gingivae, and teeth (Figure 135-1).
The lips and the lower teeth can move; this requires a dynamic
solution to esthetic problems. Shape design involves the shape
of the teeth and gingivae and can be altered by the dentist.
Esthetic smile design is complex, simplified by breaking the
problem down into component parts. The teeth are the picture,
the gingivae the frame, and the lips the movable curtains. For a
pleasing smile, the lips and gingivae need to be in harmony with
well-proportioned teeth. Teeth lose their ideal proportion with
age. This is due to incisal edges wearing faster than proximal
surfaces, so that the ideal length-to-width ratio of 1.6:1 is lost.
Ideal proportion can be regained by increasing the length of the
crown. This can be done gingivally, incisally, or both.
Planning gingival recontouring is easily performed on accurate stone casts. Changes in height and contour of the free gingival margin can be chiseled and marked on the cast (picture).
270
By combining this with waxing up the teeth, an accurate model

of the final result can be made. Using the technique of simulated
shape design, this can be tried in the mouth.
First consider esthetics of the lips, then the free gingival
margin shape, and finally tooth proportions.
Additional Readings
Chiche G, Pinault A. Anterior fixed prosthodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1994.
Rufenacht CR. Fundamentals of esthetics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1990.
Scharer P, Rinn LA, Kopp FR. Esthetic guidelines for restorative dentistry. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1982.
Van Zyl IP, Geissberger M. Simulated shape design: helping patients
decide their esthetic ideal. J Am Dent Assoc 2001;132(Aug):1105.
Figure 135-1 Esthetic smile design broken down into component parts. 1. Picture = teeth. 2. Frame
= gingivae. 3. Curtain = lips.
271
136
Esthetics: Maxillary Lip Line

Ian Van Zyl
The upper lip can assume many positions. The only reproducible
position is a forced smile. This is a boundary position useful for
deciding on the position of the free gingival margin (FGM). In an
ideal forced smile, the upper lip rests 1 mm above the zenith of
the FGM. Taking a picture of a forced smile shows valuable information usually lost by movement of the lip.
A
If the upper lip covers one-third or more of the teeth in a

forced smile, consider frenectomy. This may release the
upper lip to move more coronally and display more teeth
and FGM (Figure 136-1A and B).
If the upper lip rises 2 mm or more beyond the FGM, the

shape of the FGM becomes critical, and ideal tooth proportion and gingival position reduce the gumminess of the
smile. Attention to esthetic details can still produce a pleasing smile (Figure 136-1C).
one-third tooth coverage
If the upper lip rises asymmetrically, a unilateral surgical correction may be performed. If probing attachment levels
(PALs) are greater than 3 mm, recontouring by gingivectomy
is indicated. If PALs are less than 3 mm, an apically repositioned flap (APF) must be employed, possibly with ostectomy (similar to a crown-lengthening procedure). By these
means, tooth size harmony of the two sides can be created.
Additional Readings
Chiche G, Pinault A. Anterior fixed prosthodontics. Chicago: Quintessence
Publishing; 1994.
decide their esthetic ideal. J Am Dent Assoc 2001;132(Aug ):1105.
after frenectomy
gummy smile
Figure 136-1 Considerations in position of maxillary lip line with a

forced smile. A, Teeth covered by low lip line. B, Corrected by means of
frenectomy. C, Gummy smile where considerable gingiva is exposed
when smiling broadly.
272
Patient with UNPLEASING MAXILLARY ANTERIOR ESTHETICS
Determine:
Upper lip position in a forced smile
Obtain photos
and study models
Determine:
Nature of the esthetic problems relating to lip line
Limited lip movement

Lip covers > 2 mm of teeth
Consider: Benefits of
FRENUM REPOSITIONING
Lip rises > 2 mm

above FGM
Consider: Benefits of
GINGIVAL SURGERY
and TOOTH RESHAPING
Lip rises
asymmetrically
Consider benefits of
unilateral SURGERY
PALs > 3 mm
GINGIVECTOMY
PALs < 3 mm
APF
273
137
Esthetics: Free Gingival Margin Contour

Ian Van Zyl
Ideal free gingival margin (FGM) form adds to the dominance of

the central incisors. Draw a line through the zenith of the FGM
of the centrals and canines. This line should be close to the
esthetic plane. The gingival zenith of the lateral incisors are ideally 0.5 to 1 mm short of this line. This makes the lateral incisors
appear recessive. Long axes of teeth can be distalized by placing
the zenith of the FGM in the distal third. Distalized long axes of
the teeth make the smile look broader and the teeth less
crowded. The gingival zenith should be positioned in the middle
of teeth numbers 7 and 10. Leaning all long axes to the distal
will make a broader-looking smile.
If the teeth have a short length-to-width ratio, consider

gingivectomy or modification by flap design to put the gingival zenith in the distal third which makes the smile look
broader (long axes lean to the distal) and the teeth longer.
There may be a step in the undulating line of the FGM,

often distal to numbers 5 or 6 and numbers 11 or 12. Consider repositioning the FGM to reestablish radiating symmetry by means of gingivectomy if probing attachment levels (PALs) are greater than 3 mm or by crown lengthening
if PALs are less than 3 mm.
Additional Readings
274
The FGMs of the lateral incisors frequently are at the same

level as those of the central incisors. This causes the central
incisors to lose dominance. Depending on lip level, this
problem can be corrected in three ways. First, lengthen the
central incisor to be 1 mm apical to the lateral incisors
zenith, which would be most esthetic in a patient presenting with a high lip line. Second, slow extrusion of the laterals may bring down the height of the FGMs. Finally, consider a graft or augmentation procedure on the lateral
incisors. Various combinations of these procedures can be
utilized to optimize esthetic results.
Chiche G, Pinault A. Anterior fixed prosthodontics. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 1994.

decide their esthetic ideal. J Am Dent Assoc 2001;132(Aug):1105.
Patient with an ESTHETIC PROBLEM RELATING TO FREE GINGIVAL MARGIN CONTOURS

Create a line through the zeniths
of the gingival margins of central
incisors and canines
Assess:
FGM contours of upper incisors
and canines
Zeniths a FGM
or central and
laterals equal
Irregular steps in
the position of
FMGs on incisors
Consider:
Amount of exposure of
FGMs permitted by lip line
Consider:
Surgical recontouring
of FMGs of incisors
High lip line
Normal lip line
Low lip line
PALs > 3 mm
PALs < 3 mm
Consider:
Surgical recontouring
of FGMs of incisors
Consider lowering
FGMs of lateral
incisors
NO SURGERY
REQUIRED
GINGIVECTOMY
CROWN
LENGTHENING
PALs > 3 mm
PALs < 3 mm
GINGIVECTOMY
APICALLY
REPOSITIONED
FLAP
GRAFT
ORTHODONTIC
EXTRUSION
275
138
Esthetics: Proportions of the Teeth

Ian Van Zyl
Esthetically pleasing teeth make patients look younger. Ideal

proportions are close to a length-to-width ratio of 1.6 to 1.
Length can be altered in two ways: gingivally or incisally (Figure 138-1).
A
For a length-to-width ratio under 1 to 1 (Figure 138-2A),

increase the height of the clinical crown with a gingivectomy or gingival sculpting, if probing attachment levels
(PALs) exceed 3 mm. Otherwise, consider an apically positioned flap (APF) procedure to make the gingival zenith of
the free gingival margin (FGM) more distal to achieve the
ideal length-to-width ratio of 1.6 to 1 (Figure 138-2B).
Teeth that are too narrow or too wide may be improved by

reshaping their crowns. Those that are too wide may be
narrowed by reshaping them using enamel plasty. Those
that are too narrow may be reshaped using composite
buildups or veneer (Figure 138-2C).
A combination of B and C may be used (Figure 138-2D).
For teeth with a length-to-width ratio greater than 1.8 to 1,

consider the upper lip line. If in a forced smile the lip covers
the gingival recession, no treatment is necessary for esthetic
purposes. For ideal proportion, or high lip line, the FGM
needs to be restored at a lower level. Treatment possibilities
include slow forced eruption, grafting, or augmentation procedures. It is also possible to use a pink silicone gingival
shroud, although this is rarely acceptable to patients (Figure
138-2B).
Figure 138-1 Ideal ratio of length of crown to width of crown.
276
Patient with TEETH THAT ARE TOO SHORT OR TOO LONG
Assess:
Nature of disproportionate size of upper anterior teeth
Length problem
Teeth too short

(< 1:1 length-to-width ratio)
Determine:
Depth of crevices or pockets
PALs > 3 mm
Assess:
Lip line effects
PALs < 3 mm
GINGIVECTOMY/
GINGIVOPLASTY
APFcreate
zenith of FGM
in distal third
of anterior teeth
High lip line
ORTHODONTIC
EXTRUSION
1:1
Teeth too long

(> 1.8:1 length-to-width ratio)
GRAFT
Width problem
Too wide
Too narrow
ENAMEL
PLASTY
COMPOSITE
BUILDUPS
OR VENEERS
Low lip line
GINGIVAL
SHROUD
1:1.6
Apically positioned flap
or gingivectomy
NO TREATMENT
NEEDED
1:1.6
Increase length
(and overbite) only
1:1.6
Gingivectomy and
increase incisal length
Figure 138-2 Length to width ratios. A, Short, wide teeth with 1:1 ratio. B, Increasing length to
improve esthetics using APF or gingivectomy. C, Building up the length of crowns to improve
esthetics restoratively. D, Combination of surgical and restorative means of improving esthetics.
277
PART 15
MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES, PROBLEMS,
AND TREATMENTS
139 Informed Consent
Charles F. Sumner III
140 Peridontal Dressings
Lisa A. Harpenau
141 Dentin Hypersensitivity
142 Patient with a Soft-Tissue Impacted Third Molar Who Is Considering Extraction
James Garibaldi
143 Patient with a Partially Bony Impacted Wisdom Tooth Who Is Considering
Extraction
James Garibaldi
144 Patient with a Fully Bony Impacted Wisdom Tooth Who Is Considering
Extracton
James Garibaldi
145 Patient with an Erupted Wisdom Tooth Who Is Considering Extraction
James Garibaldi
146 Third Molar Extraction and Guided Tissue Regeneration
Daniel Etienne and Mithridade Davarpanah
147 Guided Tissue Regeneration Associated with Lower Third-Molar Surgical
Extraction
Carlo Clauser, Roberto Barone, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, and Leonardo Muzzi
148 Periodontal Considerations for Crown Lengthening
Gretchen J. Bruce
149 Rapid Extrusion versus Crown-Lengthening Surgery
Kathy I. Mueller and Galen W. Wagnild
150 Crown Margin Placement
151 When to Use Localized Chemotherapeutic Agents
Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, Roberto Rotundo, Leonardo Muzzi, and Tiziano Baccetti
152 Laser Surgery in Periodontics
Scott W. Milliken
153 Host Modulation Therapy
139
Informed Consent
Charles F. Sumner III
Dentistry has entered into the world of litigation, which demands

detailed records and all-inclusive forms. Because most dental procedures are elective, and the risks may outweigh the benefits,
dentists have a potential problem of informed consent. Consent
need not be written. If the information is complete and conveyed
to the patient in understandable language, and if the patient is
given the opportunity to ask questions that are then satisfactorily
answered, the duty to inform probably has been fulfilled. The
courts have held that patients may give valid consent to surgery
if disclosure of risks has been made by a nurse assistant and not
by the surgeon; however, the legal process tends to create fictions.
In the area of informed consent the fiction is that the patient, by
signing a form, is provided usable information for a reasoned
decision. A wise practitioner should not rely only on a record of
having satisfactorily informed the patient of the risk and alternatives of the pending procedure, but also should have in the
patients files a signed and witnessed consent form.
A
278
Although the purpose of the documented consent is to

reduce the dentists exposure to litigation, it also has value
as a practice-building tool. Properly planned, written, and
presented, the consent form may allay the patients normal
fears and apprehension and educate regarding the scope
and limitations of treatment, thereby avoiding unrealistic
expectations. The dentist has no excuse for failing to compose and properly present individual consent forms for general and special procedures.
Originally conceived as an offshoot of the law of battery,
informed consent is now generally treated under a theory
of negligence. The battery theory remains applicable if the
treatment or procedure was completely unauthorized,
whereas negligence principles apply to more commonly
encountered situations in which the treatment was authorized but consent was uninformed. Under negligence theory, a duty of care, a breach of that duty, and injury and
proximate or legal causal relationship between the breach
and the injury must be established. A patient establishes
proximate cause in an informed consent case by proof that
a proper disclosure would have resulted in a decision
against the proposed treatment or procedure.
The proper disclosure in the majority of jurisdictions is
the traditional or professional view with regard to scope
of disclosure. The physician is required to disclose only such
risks that a reasonable practitioner of like training would
have disclosed in the same or similar circumstances; however, each state has its own standards for informed consent,
and these standards are rapidly changing. Some states hold
the material risk and objective standard. Others take their
standard from battery and have a patient-based standard.
Others require that the patient be advised in great graphic
detail of all risks and the alternatives to each procedure. In
view of this variability, the dentist should learn the standard currently being followed in the locale before finalizing
a consent form in print. A good consent form also is customized to the treatment procedure. Generalized consent
forms are less likely to provide usable information for reasoned decisions. The rule is that the dentist performing the
procedure, not the referring dentist, has the obligation to
explain the procedure to the patient.
C
The courts have held that, as an integral part of the physicians overall obligation to the patient, a duty of reasonable
disclosure of available choices with respect to proposed therapy and of the dangers inherently and potentially involved
in each choice exists. This holding is based on four postulates that have become the basis of the informed consent
laws. First, the knowledge of the patient and the doctor are
not in parity. Second, an adult of sound mind exercises control over his or her own body and in exercising this control
has the right to determine whether to undergo treatment.
Third, the patients consent to proposed treatment must be
an informed one. Fourth, because of the nature of the physician-patient relationship, the physician has an obligation to
the patient that transcends arms-length transactions. Alternative plans must be explained as thoroughly and objectively as is the plan favored by the doctor.
If the treatment is cosmetic or if cosmetics plays a large role

in the patients decision to accept therapy, an even greater
need exists to communicate and gain acceptance of the limitations of proposed therapy and the alternatives available.
Dentistry is both an art and a science. Treatment results are
judged by experts from among a dentists peers. Judgment
of cosmetic results is determined by the limitations indicated in the pretreatment agreement.
Customized, detailed consent material is recommended for

high-risk procedures. The complexity and extent of the
description should be in proportion to the complexity and
extent of the proposed procedure and the risk to the
patient. If the risks are relatively minor, and are known to
be of low incidence, the demand for detail in disclosure is
diminished. Conversely, if the risks are high but their incidence is low, or if the incidence is high but the risk is low,
the fact is material and must be disclosed for a patient to
arrive at a reasoned decision.
The essence of informed consent is that a patient cannot

agree to a treatment without being presented with sufficient
facts and time to allow for a reasoned decision. Nevertheless,
some discussion and agreement must occur as to the course
to be taken when emergencies arise during treatment and
time is not sufficient for deliberation and consent.
Patient with DIAGNOSED PERIODONTAL PROBLEMS WHO REQUIRE

INFORMED CONSENT BEFORE TREATMENT
Consider:
Presentation of treatment plan for consent
Treatment described to
patient to obtain consent
Best plan as viewed

by dentist
Alternative plans
(impartially presented)
Outline advantages and

limitations of plans
Disclose risk (surgical,

medical) of plans
Treatment initiated
without consent
Consider:
Possible results of injury
Battery
Negligence because
of lack of informed
consent
Detail scope of patient

participation required
(before, during, and
after treatment)
Include stated terms of

acceptance if esthetics
is important
Agree on payment
Have consent form

signed and dated
Obtain signature
of witness
File and store
Caveat
Additional Readings
The most complete, signed, and witnessed consent form does

not excuse responsibility or mitigate against damages if battery
or negligence can be established by the evidence. In the question of Whose standard is to be followed in informed consent?
the answer may well be that no matter the standard, members
of a jury must give their verdict, and they will probably use their
personal standards in doing so.
Canterbury v Spence, 464F2d 354 (D.C. Cir. 1972).

Cobbs v Grant, 502 P2d 1 (1972).
Gaskin v Goldwasser, 520 N.E. 1d 1085 (1988).
Llera v Wisner, 557 P2d 805 (1976).
Moore v Preventive Medicine Medical Group, Inc, 178 Cal. App. 3d 738
(1986).
Mustacchio v Parker 535 So. 2nd 833 (1988).
Professional liability committeefirst line of defense in malpractice
claims. J Am Dent Assoc 1974;88:341.
Roybal v Bell, 7878 P2d 108 (1989).
279
140
Periodontal Dressings
Lisa A. Harpenau
Periodontal dressings were first introduced in 1923 by Dr A.W.

Ward, who recommended the use of a packing material following
gingival surgery. The dressing material, Wards Wondrpak, was
made of zinc oxide and eugenol, alcohol, pine oil, and asbestos
fibers. Its primary purposes included patient comfort and wound
protection. The composition of dressings has changed over the
years, eliminating potentially caustic products (such as asbestos)
and adding others for added retention and healing. Additional
benefits of dressings include reduction of hemorrhage and postoperative infection, control of granulation tissue growth, retention of apically positioned flaps by preventing coronal displacement, additional stabilization of a soft-tissue graft, protection of
denuded bone during healing, and splinting of postsurgically
mobile teeth. One of the most important benefits is the psychological comfort provided to the patient after surgery.
Periodontal dressings are generally divided into the following three categories: (1) those containing zinc oxide and eugenol;
(2) those containing zinc oxide without eugenol; and (3) those
containing neither zinc oxide nor eugenol.
A
280
Zinc oxide and eugenol dressings are supplied as a liquid

containing eugenol and peanut and/or rose oil, and resin
and a powder containing zinc oxide, powdered resin, and
tannic acid. The two components are mixed together on a
waxed paper pad using a wooden tongue depressor. The
powder is gradually incorporated into the liquid until a
doughlike consistency forms. The dressing may be used
immediately or wrapped in aluminum foil and refrigerated
for up to 1 week. The advantages of this type of dressing
include splinting (since it adheres to the teeth) and the
hemostatic effects produced by the tannic acid. The disadvantages include a rough surface on setting that adds to
plaque accumulation and bacterial proliferation; a hardsetting consistency that may complicate removal if engaged
in an undercut; the inability to adhere to mucosal surfaces;
the distinct taste of eugenol while the pack is in place; and
possible allergic reaction to eugenol that may produce
burning pain and reddening of the treated area.
Zinc oxide without eugenol dressings consist of two pastes:
an accelerator and a base. The accelerator may contain zinc
oxide, vegetable and/or mineral oil (for plasticity), and
magnesium oxide, and the base may consist of petrolatum
and denatured alcohol. The setting action results from the
reaction between the metallic oxide and the fatty acids. The
accelerator and base are dispensed in tubes. Equal lengths
of material are placed on a waxed paper pad and mixed
using a wooden tongue depressor until a thick consistency

and uniform color is reached. The setting time can be
reduced by adding a few drops of warm water during mixing or by immersing the pack into a bowl of warm water
just after mixing. Once the paste loses its tackiness, it can be
handled and molded using gloves lubricated with water or
petrolatum. The pack is then formed into pencil-sized rolls
that are then mechanically interlocked in the facial and lingual interproximal areas. Working time is approximately 15
to 20 minutes. The advantages of this dressing include
pleasant color and neutral taste; pliability, which facilitates
removal from undercut areas; and the absence of eugenol
and asbestos. The disadvantages include the inability to
adhere to mucosa; premature loss of the packing if it is not
firmly locked interproximally; minimal splinting ability due
to its soft, rubbery consistency; and the absence of tannic
acid in the material.
C
Additional hemostasis may be required for palatal donor

sites. Surgical absorbable hemostat (Surgicel, Colycote,
Avitene) may be applied over the wound bed, over which
the periodontal dressing or a palatal stent can then be placed.
Some surgeons report the use of a Stomahesive bandage

when there is a mucosal coverage requirement for a short
time (24 to 36 hours). Stomahesive is a gelatinlike material
with an adhesive surface protected by a paper coating. After
the paper is removed, the product may be placed on
mucosal surfaces, and it will adhere if it is slightly warmed
by gloved hands and the warmth of the oral environment.
The longevity of this bandage is minimal; however, some
surgeons find this short time adequate for protecting the
donor and recipient sites of a soft-tissue graft or a gingivoplasty procedure.
Additional Readings
Mosby; 1988. p. 7312.
Hall WB. Decision making in periodontology. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby;
1998. p. 254.
Newman MG, Takei H, Carranza FA Jr. Clinical periodontology. 9th ed.
Sachs HA, Farnoush A, Checchi L, Joseph CE. Current status of periodontal dressings. J Periodontol 1984;55:689.
Watts TL, Combe EC. Periodontal dressing materials. J Clin Periodontol
1979;6:3.
Patient for PERIODONTAL DRESSING
Assess:
Clinical change
APICALLY POSITIONED or
CORONALLY POSITIONED
FLAP SURGERY
GUIDED
TISSUE
REGENERATION
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
Consider:
Need for splinting effect
Splinting effect
needed
Zinc oxide and

eugenol dressing
Splinting effect
not needed
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE
GRAFT
Consider:
Site
Single site
Multiple sites
Donor site
Zinc oxide without

eugenol dressing
Zinc oxide without

eugenol dressing
Absorbable
hemostat
Consider:
Adequacy of
interproximal
locking
Zinc oxide without
eugenol dressing
or stent
Recipient site
Adequate
interproximal
locking
Stomahesive bandage
281
141
Dentin Hypersensitivity
Dentin hypersensitivity affects about one out of every seven

dental patients. Furthermore, with the aging of the populace
and increased tooth retention, the number of dental patients
with sensitive teeth will no doubt increase. Dentin hypersensitivity may occur if fresh dentin is exposed to thermal, tactile,
evaporative, or chemical stimuli. The term root hypersensitivity is
commonly used to describe dentin hypersensitivity associated
with gingival recession, abrasion, erosion, root planing, and
periodontal flap surgery. Root hypersensitivity may present a
perplexing and frustrating problem for both the patient and
dentist during definitive periodontal treatment and subsequent
maintenance therapy.
A
The first steps in treating dentin hypersensitivity are to identify the sensitive area and establish an etiology. Caries, a fractured tooth or restoration, occlusal trauma, recent restorative
therapy, gingival recession, abrasion, erosion, and recent root
planing or periodontal flap surgery should be evaluated as
possible causes. Treatment should be appropriate for the
identified etiology. If an evaluation of tooth vitality shows
irreversible pulpal inflammation, endodontic therapy is
required. If the tooth is fractured, an endodontic and periodontal evaluation may be required to establish a prognosis.
Severe fractures usually require extraction of the tooth.
Treatment for root hypersensitivity begins with meticulous

plaque control and the use of a desensitizing toothpaste.
(Toothpastes containing potassium nitrate or strontium
chloride have been shown to be effective desensitizers. Several commercial products have been evaluated and
accepted by the American Dental Associations Council on
Dental Therapeutics.) Root hypersensitivity associated with
282
severe abrasion or erosion may require restorative procedures in conjunction with instructions on proper brushing
technique (abrasion cases) or dietary counseling (erosion
cases). If the patient experiences no relief after 2 weeks of
meticulous home care with a densensitizing toothpaste or is
too sensitive to practice proper plaque control, office procedures should be combined with the home regimen.
C
A multitude of agents and methods have been used in the

treatment of root hypersensitivity, but no one therapy has
proven universally effective. The dentist should use the
most conservative treatment that is effective for a particular patient. Multiple office procedures, often combining
more than one method, may be required for best results. In
some instances, local anesthesia may be necessary before
initiation of the desensitizing procedure. Commonly used
agents include fluoride, calcium hydroxide, potassium
oxalate, ferric oxalate, restorative resins, and varnishes.
Iontophoresis, a method of delivering charged molecules or
medicaments through an electric current, has been used
successfully with a 1 to 2% sodium fluoride solution. In
severe cases that do not respond to more conservative
treatment, endodontic therapy may be required.
Additional Readings
Curra FA. Tooth hypersensitivity. Dent Clin North Am 1990;34(3).
Hodosh N, Hodosh S, Hodosh A. About dentinal hypersensitivity. Compendium 1994;151:658.
Patient with DENTIN HYPERSENSITIVITY
Identify location and

establish etiology
Caries
Fractured tooth or restoration

(see Chapter 35)
Occlusal trauma
(see Chapters 62 and 63)
Remove caries
and restore
Replace fractured restoration

Endodontic and periodontal
evaluation for fractured tooth
Occlusal
adjustment
New restoration
Monitor; check
occlusion
Gingival recession,
abrasion, erosion,
or recent root planing
or periodontal surgery
No relief in 2 weeks
Irreversible pulpal
inflammation
C
ENDODONTIC
THERAPY
Meticulous plaque
control
Desensitizing
toothpaste
Combine office with

home procedures
283
142
Patient with a Soft-Tissue Impacted Third Molar

Who Is Considering Extraction
James Garibaldi
When a patient has a symptomatic soft-tissue impaction, the

most likely cause is pericoronitis. The tooth begins to erupt
somewhat but because of proximity to the ramus or adjacent
second molars, or abnormal eruption pattern, is prevented from
erupting fully. The overlying soft-tissue operculum can often
become the site for entrapment of food debris and proliferation
of microorganisms leading to inflammation. Generally, this phenomenon is very painful, involves the mandibular wisdom
teeth, and can progress to a full-blown infection.
A
The first thing to assess is whether the patient is symptomatic and if the cause is pericoronitis or not. If so, one
should next consider the age of the patient, which generally correlates with the amount of root formation present.
The ideal time to remove an impacted wisdom tooth is

when one-third to two-thirds of the root is formed, which
generally corresponds with the middle to late teenage
years. If it is removed too early, when no root is formed, the
extraction process is difficult because the tooth tends to roll
around in its bony crypt. If, on the other hand, the roots are
completely formed, the tooth is anchored firmly in place.
284
Hence, with lack of full eruption potential, symptoms of pericoronitis, which can subside and recur at any time, and onethird to two-thirds of the root formed, the tooth should be
extracted. Other factors that also would indicate the need for
an extraction include associated pathology, not enough
attached gingiva if the wisdom tooth could erupt, or the
tooth cannot be kept clean on the distal if it were to erupt
fully. The key is to remove a tooth with these factors when
the patient is young so the chances of regeneration of periodontal structures on the distal of the second molar are more
predictable. The surgery itself is easier compared with later in
life, and the recuperation is generally uneventful, with less
potential for postoperative complications. If none of these
factors are present, the tooth can be left and monitored.
If the patient is asymptomatic, one should again consider

the age of the patient. The ideal time for extraction is when
one-third to two-thirds of the root is formed and no pathology is noted, especially if the potential for full eruption is
improbable or impossible.
If the patient is older, the status of the second molar should

be considered. If no pathology or periodontal problems are
noted, the situation should be monitored. However, if radiographs show that the wisdom tooth is abutted against the
distal of the second molars, potentially compromising the
distal of the second molars periodontal structures and
(1) there is not enough space for full eruption of the wisdom tooth, (2) there is pathology or inadequate attached
gingiva, or (3) the patient is unable to keep it clean if the
tooth were to erupt, the tooth should be extractedeven if
asymptomatic. Guided tissue regeneration may be considered (see Chapter 146).
Additional Readings
Kugelberg CF, Ahlstrom U, Ericson S, et al. The influence of anatomical,
pathophysiological and other factors on periodontal healing after
impacted lower third molar surgery. J Clin Periodontol 1991;18:37.
Laskin DM. Indications and contraindications for removal of impacted
third molars. Dent Clin North Am 1969;13:919.
Leone SA, Edenfield MJ, Coehn ME. Correlation of acute pericoronitis
and the position of the mandibular third molar. Oral Surg Oral
Med Oral Pathol 1986;62:245.
Osborne WH, Snyder AJ, Tempen TR. Attachment levels and crevicular
depths at the distal aspect of mandibular second molars following
removal of adjacent third molars. J Periodontol 1982;53:93.
Pedersen GW. Oral surgery. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1988. p. 60.
Robinson PD. The impacted lower wisdom tooth: to remove or to leave
alone? Dent Update 1994;21:245.
Tate TE. Impactions: observe or treat? J Calif Dent Assoc 1994;22(6):59.
Patient with SOFT-TISSUE IMPACTED WISDOM TOOTH WHO IS CONSIDERING EXTRACTION
Determine:
Is the tooth symptomatic?
Yes
No
Determine:
Does the patient have pericoronitis?
Yes
No
Consider:
Age of the patient
Probable
eruption
discomfort
Teenager up to
25 years of age
Consider:
Age of the patient
Younger patient
Teenager up to
25 years of age
Determine:
If root is onethird to two-thirds
formed (ideal)
Determine:
formed (ideal)
Yes
No
No
Periodontal
evaluation on
the distal of
second molar
Wait for onethird to twothirds of root
to form

to form
Wait for one-third

to two-thirds of
root to form and
treat periodontitis
palliatively
Evaluate:
Periodontal status
on the distal of
the second molar
Older patient
Yes
Older patient
Determine if one of the following is present:

Tooth malposed or not enough space between ramus and second molar
making eruption impossible or improbable
Associated pathology present (radiolucency/radiopacity/cyst formation)
If tooth will erupt (enough space), there is not enough space on the distal
of the wisdom tooth for patient to keep it clean
Lack of adequate attached gingiva if wisdom tooth erupts into occlusion
Radiograph
shows wisdom
tooth abutted
against distal
of second molar
No periodontal
(radiograph shows
bone between
wisdom tooth and
second molar) or
pathology problems
noted
Monitor: EXTRACT to
prevent pericoronitis and if
periodontal structures on
distal of second molar will
not be compromised and
tooth cannot ever erupt fully
EXTRACT
285
143
Patient with a Partially Bony Impacted Wisdom Tooth

James Garibaldi
Probably the common complaint of a patient with a partial bony

impaction is pain secondary to pericoronitis. This results basically from the jaw, usually the mandible, being too small to
accommodate the full eruption of a wisdom tooth. Hence its
complete eruption is prevented by the ramus or the adjacent
second molar, or by abnormal eruption pattern.
A
The ideal time to remove a partially impacted wisdom tooth

without enough space between the ramus and the second
molar for complete eruption is when one-third to twothirds of the root is formed.
If the patient is symptomatic but does not have pericoronitis, the cause is most probably eruption discomfort. If the
tooth possesses pathology or is malposed or impacted under
the ramus making complete eruption improbable or impossible, it should be removed.
286
When the patient is asymptomatic, but radiographically a

partial bony impaction is noted, the patient, especially a
teenager with one-third to two-thirds of the root formed,
should be evaluated. The reason is if pathology or other factors, such as impossible or improbable eruption of the
tooth, are noted, this is the ideal time for removal. The
bone is elastic, and the roots are not completely formed to
anchor the tooth. The surgery is then met with fewer postoperative complications, and the recovery is generally
quicker than in an older patient. The elasticity of bone in

the younger patient can be compared with the need for
bone removal in the older patient with its potential for
postoperative morbidity.
D
In the asymptomatic patient, as with all patients, risk factors should be assessed in removing wisdom teeth. Sinus
proximity and potential damage to the inferior alveolar
nerve must be considered. In the older patient, where bone
elasticity decreases, these risk factors can be of more concern than in the teenager. If significant, the status of the
distal of the second molar should be evaluated periodically
and, if no pathology or periodontal concerns are noted, the
tooth should be monitored and followed up closely.
Additional Readings
Braden BE. Deep distal pockets adjacent to terminal teeth. Dent Clin
North Am 1969;13:161.
Koerner KR. The removal of impacted third molars: principles, indications and procedures. Dent Clin North Am 1994;38:255.
Laskin DM. Indications and contraindications for removal of impacted
third molars. Dent Clin North Am 1969;13:919.
Mercier P, Precious D. Risks and benefits of removal of impacted third
molars. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1992;21(1):17.
Peterson IJ, Ellis E, Hupp JR, Tucker MR. Contemporary oral and
maxillofacial surgery. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 1998. p. 224.
Patient with a PARTIALLY BONY IMPACTED WISDOM TOOTH WHO IS CONSIDERING EXTRACTION
Determine:
Yes
No
Determine:
Does the patient have pericoronitis?
Consider:
Age of the patient
Yes
No
Consider:
Age of the patient
Teenager up to
25 years of age
Younger patient
Teenager up to
25 years of age
B Probable
eruption
discomfort
Determine:
formed (ideal)
Determine:
formed (ideal)
Yes
No
Evaluate:
Periodontal status
on the distal of
the second molar
Older patient
Yes
Older patient
No
Periodontal
evaluation on
the distal of
second molar
to form

to form
Wait for one-third

to two-thirds of
root to form and
treat periodontitis
palliatively

Tooth malposed or not enough space between ramus and second molar making
eruption impossible or improbable
Associated pathology present (radiolucency/radiopacity/cyst formation)
If tooth will erupt (enough space), there is not enough space on the distal of the
wisdom tooth for patient to keep it clean
Radiograph
shows wisdom
tooth abutted
against distal
of second molar
No periodontal
(radiograph shows
bone between
wisdom tooth and
second molar) or
pathology problems
noted
Monitor: EXTRACT if
periodontal structures on
distal of second molar will
not be compromised and
tooth will never erupt fully
EXTRACT
287
144
Patient with a Fully Bony Impacted Wisdom Tooth

James Garibaldi
In the patient with a full bony impaction that is symptomatic,

the least likely cause is pericoronitis. This is because a portion of
the tooth must be erupted allowing for the development of an
operculum, which can lead to entrapment of food debris and
proliferation of micoorganisms. However, there are times when
an erupted maxillary wisdom tooth can supererupt and begin
biting the gingiva overlying the lower fully impacted wisdom
tooth. This can create the same sort of symptoms, hence making the patient with a full bony impaction symptomatic.
A
The first thing to consider in the symptomatic patient is age

and the presence or absence of pathology. If pathology is
present in the form of an enlarged follicle, a cyst, or a radiolucency or radiopacity associated with the tooth, the tooth
in question should be removed, and the specimen sent to a
pathology laboratory for evaluation. The most common
pathology noted with full bony impactions is the dentigerous cyst, which can continue to enlarge over time.
Neoplasms, such as squamous cell carcinoma, can develop

in the epithelial lining of cysts, especially as the patient
becomes older. Therefore if a third molar without pathology is left at an early age, the tooth needs to be followed up
with periodic radiographs. If it is found that the symptoms
are caused by a supererupted maxillary molar biting the
gingiva of a full bony mandibular impaction, the
supererupted tooth should be removed.
288
In the young asymptomatic patient with a full bony

impaction, if no pathology is present, one should wait until
at least one-third to two-thirds of the root is formed. The
reason for this is twofold: (1) usually the wisdom tooth will
erupt more with time (ie, not be as close to the maxillary

sinus or inferior alveolar canal) and (2) if a tooth is removed
without any root formation, if can roll around in its bony
crypt, making the extraction more difficult than if some root
structure is present to stabilize the tooth during extraction.
D
If the patient is asymptomatic, one should again consider the

patients age. Generally, as the patient grows older, the health
can decline and may necessitate the use of prescription drugs
for such things as high blood pressure, arthritis, or chronic
atrial fibrillation. The dentist needs to take into account this
information before deciding on an extraction. At times, a
medical consultation, laboratory work, or even hospitalization may be required to complete the procedure. If the distal
of the second molar is periodontally sound, the wisdom
tooth cannot be felt with a periodontal probe, and no pathology is noted in association with the wisdom tooth, it should
be monitored with periodic radiographic evaluation.
Additional Readings
Eversole LR. Clinical outline of oral pathology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea
& Febiger; 1992. p. 254.
Main DW. Follicular cysts of mandibular third molar teeth: radiological
evaluation of enlargement. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 1989;18:156.
Mercier P, Precious D. Risks and benefits of removal of impacted third
molars. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1992;21(1):17.
Robinson PD. The impacted lower wisdom tooth: to remove or to leave
alone? Dent Update 1994;21:245.
Stanley HR, Alattar M, Collett WK, et al. Pathological sequelae of
neglected impacted third molars. J Oral Pathol 1988;17:113.
Tate TE. Impactions: observe or treat? J Calif Dent Assoc 1994;22(6):59.
Patient with a FULLY BONY IMPACTED WISDOM TOOTH WHO IS CONSIDERING EXTRACTION
Determine:
Yes
No
Consider:
Age of the patient
Consider:
Age of the patient
Younger
patient
Teenager
up to 25
years of age
Older
patient
Younger
patient
Teenager
up to 25
years of age
Determine:
If root is one-third to twothirds formed (ideal)
Yes
Determine:
If root is one-third
to two-thirds formed
No
Wait for root to be

one-third to twothirds formed if no
pathology present
Yes
Wait for one-third

to two-thirds of
root to form if no
pathology present
Older
patient
Evaluate:
Periodontal status
on the distal of
the second molar
No
No periodontal
or pathology
problems
noted
Cannot probe
wisdom tooth
Wait for one-third

to two-thirds of
root to form if no
pathology present
Can probe
wisdom
tooth crown
Determine:
If pathology is present (radiolucency,
radiopacity, cyst formation)
Yes
No
EXTRACT
Make sure that onethird to two-thirds

of root is formed
(young patient)
Periodontal evaluation
on the distal of second
molar (older patient)
Monitor
Determine:
If pathology is present (radiolucency,
radiopacity, cyst formation)
No
Yes
Make sure that onethird to two-thirds

of root is formed
EXTRACT

Tooth malposed or not enough space between ramus and second molar
making eruption impossible or improbable
If tooth will erupt (enough space), there is not enough space on distal of
the wisdom tooth for patient to keep it clean
EXTRACT
289
145
Patient with an Erupted Wisdom Tooth

James Garibaldi
When a patient has an erupted wisdom tooth, the first thing the
dentist must ascertain is whether the tooth is symptomatic.
A
If the tooth is asymptomatic, then whether the tooth is

cleansable should be considered. If the distal of the wisdom
tooth is against or close to the ramus, then it will be impossible for the patient to keep this area clean. Another consideration in an asymptomatic wisdom tooth that has
enough space on the distal to be kept clean is the presence
and adequacy of surrounding attached gingiva.
After determining that the tooth is cleansable and free of

both periodontal problems and caries, the dentist must
make sure that the tooth has erupted into normal occlusion
and that it is not in buccal or lingual version. Also, it should
be noted whether the tooth has an opposing tooth, allowing
it to be functional and preventing possible supereruption.
However, if the wisdom tooth does not have an opposing

tooth but is asymptomatic and periodontally sound, then
it is up to the dentist and patient with regard to retention
or extraction. The question to answer is if this tooth
could ever be used in a future treatment plan or if it
could simply supererupt with time and cause problems,
such as cheek biting.
290
If the patient is symptomatic, then the first item to ascertain

is the presence or absence of caries. If present, and the
tooth has periodontal problems, lack of attached gingiva, or
is up against the ramus, extraction is indicated.
If there are caries, but the tooth is free of periodontal problems and can be kept clean, a determination should be
made as to whether the tooth is functional or not (ie, in
occlusion with an opposing tooth). If this is the case it
should be restored and maintained.
Finally, if the wisdom tooth in occlusion is cleansable without periodontal or attached gingiva problems and has no
caries (but is symptomatic), the patient should be checked
for cracked-tooth syndrome (see Chapter 35). If this can be
ruled out, oral hygiene should be improved and symptoms
further evaluated. This includes checking for sensitivity secondary to exposed cementum and prematurity in occlusal
contact. If symptoms do not resolve after appropriate treatment, the tooth should be extracted if of no value in a
future treatment plan.
Additional Readings
Hooley JR, Whitacre RJ. Assessment of and surgery for third molars: a
self-instructional guide. 3rd ed. Seattle: Stoma Press; 1983.
Lysell L, Rohlin M. A study of indications used for removal of the
mandibular third molar. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1988;17:161.
Meister F Jr et al. Periodontal assessment following surgical removal of
erupted mandibular third molars. Gen Dent 1986;14:120.
Pedersen GW. Oral surgery. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1988. p. 60.
Peterson IJ, Ellis E, Hupp JR, Tucker MR. Contemporary oral and
maxillofacial surgery. 3rd ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 1998. p. 224.
Patient with an ERUPTED WISDOM TOOTH WHO IS CONSIDERING EXTRACTION
Determine:
No
Yes
Evaluate:
Cleansability
Caries status
Adequate attached gingiva
Not cleansable
Caries present
Lack of attached gingiva
Consider:
Is there evidence of caries?
No
Yes
Evaluate:
Cleansability
Evaluate:
Cleansability
EXTRACT
Cleansable
No caries present
No periodontal problems
Not cleansable
Not cleansable
EXTRACT
EXTRACT
Assay:
In normal occlusion?
No
Yes
EXTRACT
Determine:
Does wisdom tooth
in question have an
opposing tooth?
No
Yes
Monitor
Discussion
between patient
and practitioner
Cleansable
Cleansable
Determine:
Is tooth on occlusion?
Determine:
Is tooth on occlusion?
No
Yes
EXTRACT
Monitor symptoms
Increase oral hygiene
If no resolution
of symptoms
EXTRACT
No
Yes
EXTRACT
Determine:
Does wisdom tooth in question
have an opposing tooth?
No
Yes
EXTRACT
If needed in a
future treatment
plan, then restore
Restore and
monitor
291
146
Third Molar Extraction and Guided Tissue Regeneration

Daniel Etienne and Mithridade Davarpanah
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is an accepted method for

treating deep intrabony defects. The principle is based on
numerous animal and clinical studies in which barrier membranes were used to isolate periodontal defects from the gingival epithelium and gingival connective tissues, allowing cells
from the periodontal ligament to repopulate the detached root
surface. To date the majority of studies relating to GTR have
used expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) barrier membranes, which are considered the gold standard.
The hoped-for outcome in removing impacted third molars is
to do so without injury to the adjacent tooth. Improper surgical
technique may cause postoperative pain and result in intrabony
defects adjacent to second molars. Partially impacted third molars
are frequently accompanied by periodontal breakdown of the
adjacent tooth. In a retrospective study, Kugelberg reported that
2 years after impacted third-molar surgery, 43.3% of the cases
showed probing depths greater than 7 mm and 32.1% showed
intrabony defects greater than 4 mm on the distal surface of the
adjacent second molar. Of patients older than 26 years, 44%
demonstrated intrabony defects greater than 4 mm distal to second molars. Of patients younger than 25 years, 4% developed
defects greater than 4 mm.
GTR is an accepted and appropriate method for treating
advanced periodontal defects and diseases associated with horizontally impacted third molars. Pecora and colleagues evaluated
the possibilities of using GTR procedures to prevent or treat
periodontal lesions after third-molar extractions (the use of
ePTFE membranes to regenerate tissue lost as a result of periodontal disease has been well documented).
In this study, periodontal healing of 20 vertical intrabony
defects located distally to second molars was monitored for
7 years after impacted third-molar surgery. Data showed that all
defects healed with a combination of recession and decreased
probing depths. In the test group, the mean decrease in probing
depth was 5.7 mm, compared with 4 mm in the control group.
A mean gain of probing attachment level of 4.3 mm occurred for
the test group, compared with 1.9 mm for the control group.
The use of ePTFE membranes significantly enhanced the gain of
attachment level in the test sites compared with the control sites
(p < .01). However, both treatment modalities resulted in a significant reduction in pocket depth.
The proper diagnosis of an intrabony defect on the distal
surface of the second molar is important for successful treatment during third-molar surgery. The preoperative anatomic
relationship with the second molar also is a critical factor.
Age is a main contributing factor. Subjects 25 years or
younger exhibit fewer postoperative intrabony pockets. The
extent of the intrabony defect on the distal of the second molar
also is a critical parameter. Dental plaque affects the wound
healing of older patients.
292
Kugelbergs Risk Index M3 is an index predicting the risk

for periodontal defects. A value of 1 indicates no risk, 2 is
low risk, 3 is moderate risk, and 4 and above is high risk.
An index of 0 is correlated with an estimated defect of
2 mm, an index of 2 to an intrabony defect of 3 mm, and
an index of 4 to an osseous defect of 4 mm.
For patients who on the Kugelberg Risk Index M3 score < 2

patients with no periodontal involvement on the adjacent
second molar, patients whose asymptomatic third molars are
being removed for orthodontic reasons, or patients with
3 mm or smaller infrabony defects on the adjacent second
molarno membrane therapy is neccessary.
For patients who on the Kugelbergs Risk Index M3 score

> 2with deep pockets and narrow, deep infrabony
defects on the adjacent second molarthe possibility of
closing the flaps completely over the third-molar extraction socket determines whether a resorbable or nonresorbable membrane should be used. If full coverage of
the membrane is possible, a resorbable membrane should
be employed for GTR. In all other instances a nonresorbable membrane is necessary.
For patients with a Kugelbergs Risk Index M3 score > 2

those with deep pockets and deep, wide infrabony
defectsa nonresorbable membrane with titanium reinforcement is employed to avoid membrane collapse.
The use of reinforced membranes is well established for

wide intrabony defects and guided bony regeneration around
implants. The blood clot is well protected from membrane collapse if a titanium-reinforced membrane is used, but the outcome and advantage for comparison with conventional ePTFE
membranes have yet to be validated for third-molar surgery
and wide spaces.
Treatment modalities will evolve with resorbable membranes
(Resolut). These membranes, made of polymers, are well integrated within the soft tissue, but they collapse in wide defects. If
an optimal bone level is desired, ePTFE membranes are better.
GTR is an appropriate way of treating periodontal diseases
associated with horizontally impacted third molars.
Additional Readings
Kugelberg C. Third molar surgery: oral and maxillofacial surgery and
infections. Curr Opin Dent 1992;2:9.
Pecora G et al. The effects of guided tissue regeneration on healing
after impacted mandibular third-molar surgery: 1 year results. Int
J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1993;13:397.
Patient with an IMPACTED THIRD MOLAR to be EXTRACTED
Determine:
Kugelbergs Risk Index M3*
Kugelbergs Risk Index M3 score < 2
Asymptomatic third molar

No periodontal breakdown on
the adjacent second molar
Removal for orthodontic

considerations
No prophylactic removal
Kugelbergs Risk Index M3 score > 2
Asymptomatic third molar

No periodontal pocket
Bone loss on the adjacent
second molar
Removal for orthodontic

considerations
No prophylactic removal
No curettage of
the denuded root
Periodontal pocket 6 mm
Bone loss on the adjacent
second molar
Intrabony defect 3 mm
Resolution of the defect
can be expected
Limited postoperative
periodontal pocket
No need for membrane
therapy
Curettage of the
denuded root
Bone loss on distal of the second molar

Deep periodontal pocket
Narrow and deep intrabony defect
RESORBABLE MEMBRANE
(if full coverage of
membrane is possible)
NONRESORBABLE MEMBRANE
(if full coverage of membrane
is not possible)
Bone loss on distal of the second molar

Deep periodontal pocket
Wide and deep intrabony defect
NONRESORBABLE TITANIUMREINFORCED MEMBRANE

(to prevent membrane
collapse into wide defect)
Membrane removal
at 6 weeks
*Kugelbergs Risk Index M3. Each of the following criteria has a value of 1: on distal second molar: (1) plaque, (2) pocket depth > 6 mm,
(3) intrabony defect > 3 mm, (4) root resorption; third molar: (5) sagittal inclination < 50, (6) widened follicles < 2.5 mm; (7) large contact
area between third and second molar, (8) smoker.
293
147
Guided Tissue Regeneration Associated

with Lower Third-Molar Surgical Extraction
Carlo Clauser, Roberto Barone, Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, and Leonardo Muzzi
Periodontal defects on the distal aspect of the lower second

molar present some distinctive features that include the following: (1) the associated third molar hinders the periodontal diagnosis, (2) the periodontal prognosis is mainly based on statistical data derived from previous studies, (3) the third molar often
must be extracted (for periodontal and nonperiodontal considerations) and may leave a defect that should be treated in a
timely manner, (4) the periodontal diagnosis may be checked
and refined during surgery immediately after the third-molar
extraction, (5) the site is exposed surgically at the extraction,
providing a unique opportunity for surgical periodontal treatment without additional surgical sessions, (6) surgical access to
the lingual side of the second molar presents a significant risk of
interfering with the lingual nerve during surgery including
reentry procedures after guided tissue regeneration (GTR) procedures with nonresorbable barrier material, and (7) periodontal maintenance distal to the second molar is always difficult,
especially if a third-molar extraction is indicated, and the second
molar has little space. The correction of morphology to facilitate
hygiene is of paramount importance for effective maintenance;
this is a strong indication for periodontal regeneration.
Third-molar extraction should be followed by periodontal
evaluation and treatment of the associated defect on the second
molar if indicated. The treatment may best be accomplished by
GTR in selected cases.
A
The communication between the pericoronal space and

oral cavity is assessed visually using a periodontal probe or
indirectly from the presence of pericoronitis. The probe is
used to contact the third-molar crown through a discontinuity in the mucosa. Distinguishing between the penetration of the probe into the pericoronal space and correct
insertion into the second-molar pocket may be difficult.
If no communication with the oral cavity exists, the third
molar does not communicate with the periodontal crevice
on the distal of the second molar. In these cases a distal
bone dehiscence on the second molar may be detected during extraction of the third molar; however, reattachment is
expected because the root surface has not been exposed to
the oral environment. These cases therefore are not candidates for immediate GTR; they should be followed in the
postoperative period to detect late periodontal defects
amenable to standard periodontal therapy, including GTR.
Patients who need emergency extractions during acute

infection are not candidates for immediate GTR because the
barrier membrane cannot be covered adequately. For the
same reason, patients with partially erupted third molars
are not candidates for immediate GTR because masticatory
mucosa and gingiva in the area usually are minimal.
Many cases of third-molar extractions heal without significant periodontal defects on the second molar without any
additional treatment. Few cases treated before age 25 have
294
intrabony defects after surgery. The probing depth on the

distal aspect of the second molar often is related to the presence of a pseudopocket. Patients older than 25, however,
have intrabony defects in 44% of all cases. In the older
group the dentist must identify high-risk patients in whom
further periodontal treatment is indicated at the time of
extraction. Several risk factors for periodontal problems on
the second molar have been documented: preoperative
plaque accumulation on the distal of the second molar, preoperative probing depth greater than 6 mm, preoperative
intrabony defects greater than 3 mm, sagittal inclination of
the third molar greater than 50, a large contact area
between the second and third molars, resorption of secondmolar distal roots, pathologically widened (more than
3 mm) follicle mesial to the third molar, and smoking habits.
Deep intrabony defects (larger than 4 mm) are expected if
five or more risk factors are present. These findings are crucial because GTR is an expensive treatment modality and
becomes cost effective only if it is predicted to be successful
and the alternative entails a predictably poor prognosis.
E
The predictability of GTR procedures is affected by patient

and local factors. Local factors cannot be fully evaluated
preoperatively; this fact should be communicated to the
patient. Patient factors should be evaluated before surgery.
A candidate for GTR must have good oral hygiene compliance, no systemic diseases, no smoking habits, no risk for
endocarditis or endarteritis, and absence of rapidly progressive periodontitis.
The flap design is crucial for GTR procedures. All the available masticatory mucosa should be preserved to ensure
adequate coverage of the membrane. Care must be taken to
reflect all the tissue behind the second molar without lacerations. The flap also should involve the interdental space
between the first and second molars to allow for the passage of a suture. The dentist also should preserve as much
of the linea obliqua externa of the mandible as possible to
provide better support for the membrane.
Immediately after the extraction the distal aspect of the second molar is inspected to discover whether calculus is present (which confirms a poor periodontal prognosis if the
needed steps are not undertaken) and determine the tridimensional shape of the defect.
The principles of GTR are applied as in the treatment of any

angular bone defect. The dentist should make the choice
between resorbable and nonresorbable materials keeping in
mind that sharp dissection may be required to remove a
large nonresorbable membrane. In this case, some risk of
damaging the lingual nerve is present. A resorbable material is preferred. After the extraction a large bone cavity
remains resulting from the periodontal defect, empty thirdmolar socket, and any bone resection needed for extraction.
Patient for SURGICAL REMOVAL OF A MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR
Evaluate the presence of a probable communication between third molar and oral cavity
No
Yes
Not a candidate for

immediate GTR
Evaluate third molar impaction
Not erupted
Partially erupted
Evaluate the presence and severity of inflammation
No acute inflammation
Acute
inflammation
Not candidate for

immediate GTR
Evaluate age of the patient
J
Under 25 Yrs
Extraction with secondary closure
Over 25 Yrs
Assess 2nd molar prognosis
Poor prognosis for second molar
Extraction with primary closure
Questionable prognosis for second molar
Evaluate patients suitability for GTR: Patient and local factors
Not suitable
Suitable
Mucoperiosteal flap for primary closure. Extraction
Extraction with secondary closure
Shallow defect buccal dehiscence
Evaluate type of defect and root surface
Root planing and osseous recontouring if

needed and secondary flap closure
The membrane should be large enough to cover all the

bone cavity and several millimeters of intact bone around
it. Both the membrane and fixing device (suture or built-in
ligature and knots) must remain covered with tissue. If a
membrane with built-in ligature is used, the knot should be
a simple square one positioned behind the second molar,
making the ligature go all around the tooth.
I
Primary closure of the surgical wound is needed for nonattachment and for regenerative procedures. It is contraindicated in cases of infection, in which secondary closure provides better comfort and plaque control.
Deep intrabony defect with high bone peaks
IMMEDIATE GTR with resorbable barrier

and Primary flap closure
Additional Readings
Ash MM, Costich ER, Hayward JR. A study of periodontal hazards of
third molars. J Periodontol 1962;33:209.
Kugelberg CF. Periodontal healing 2 and 4 years after impacted lower
third molar surgery. A comparative retrospective study. Int J Oral
Maxillofac Surg 1990;19:341.
Kugelberg CF. Third molar surgery: current science. Oral Maxillofac
Surg Infect 1992;2(3):9.
Kugelberg CF et al. Periodontal healing after impacted lower third molar
surgery in adolescents and adults: a prospective study. Int J Oral
Maxillofac Surg 1991;20:18.
295
148
Periodontal Considerations for Crown Lengthening

Gretchen J. Bruce
One of the challenges of restorative dentistry is the restoration

of teeth with insufficient supragingival tooth height. Clinical situations that require a decision to restore or extract such teeth
are (1) short clinical crown, (2) root caries, (3) subgingival perforation, (4) fractures, (5) retrograde wear, and (6) altered passive eruption. If teeth are restored without regard to biologic
principles, the periodontium may develop increased probing
depths, problems with respect to plaque control, and a swollen
cyanotic appearance.
Biologic width has been described as the space occupied by
the junctional epithelium and connective tissue attachment
coronal to the alveolar crest. This dimension is approximately
2.04 mm. An additional millimeter representing the gingival
crevice is combined with this figure to permit the establishment
of an intracrevicular restorative margin (Figure 148-1). A minimum of 3 mm of sound tooth above the alveolar process is necessary if a restoration or fracture approaches the crest. Violation
of the biologic width may result in inflammation and bone
resorption. Surgical procedures such as gingivectomy and
Figure 148-1 When crown lengthening is performed where a fracture

extends apically into the root, bone must be removed to expose a minimum of 2 mm of root structure apical to the ultimate margin of the
restoration.
296
apically positioned flap with or without osseous surgery may be

used to increase the clinical crown length.
A
If the tooth is periodontally healthy or affected by gingivitis only, crown lengthening may be accomplished by gingivectomy in cases of excess gingiva. This approach requires
an adequate zone of attached gingiva with at least 3 mm of
sound tooth structure above the crest of bone. If a
mucogingival problem is anticipated, use an apically positioned flap to retain the available gingiva and lengthen the
crown. A gingival graft is performed in instances of inadequate attached gingiva.
Electrosurgery or laser surgery, as alternatives to gingivectomy, are quick methods for reducing excess tissue
and providing good control of hemorrhage. Care must be
taken to avoid contact with the bone. Even minimal contact with the alveolar process may result in overcoagulation, necrosis, resorption of bone, and gingival recession. In
most circumstances, use of a blade is preferable to use of an
electrosurgical unit or dental laser.
If the bone level is normal with no root fracture, use

mucogingival-osseous surgery to expose at least 3 mm of
root beyond where the restorative margin is to be placed. If
a fracture extends into the root, assess the prognosis, accessibility, and esthetics before proceeding further. If a fracture
compromises a furcation, root resection is a consideration.
Extraction is indicated if the fracture extends to the middle
third of the root or jeopardizes the support of the adjacent
teeth. If the root fracture occurs in a more favorable location (coronal to the mid-third of the root), use a gingival
flap with osseous surgery to expose the fractured area and
create the appropriate biologic width.
Maintenance of esthetics is a major concern in the anterior and premolar region. Orthodontics or forced eruption
is a treatment option allowing extrusion of the fractured
tooth with conservation of bone and esthetics; however,
the need for periodontal surgery is not necessarily eliminated. Minimal crown lengthening to correct osseous contours then may be confined to the extruded tooth.
If the tooth requiring crown lengthening has periodontal

pockets, assess the degree of periodontal support, strategic
value, and prognosis using the same criteria as outlined in
B. Initial therapy is performed before crown lengthening to
decrease inflammation and promote better hemostasis. Use
mucogingival-osseous surgery to eliminate the periodontal
pockets and lengthen the crown.
Patient with TOOTH REQUIRING CROWN LENGTHENING
Assess:
Periodontal status of tooth
Tooth
periodontically
healthy
Gingivitis
Periodontal
pockets
present
Prophylaxis
Excess gingiva only
Assess:
Mucogingival status
Potential
mucogingival
problem
APICALLY
POSITIONED
FLAP
Determine:
Condition of root/biologic width violation
No potential
mucogingival
problem
GINGIVECTOMY
FREE
GINGIVAL
GRAFT
Normal
bone
height
ELECTROSURGERY
or LASER SURGERY
No root fracture
(short clinical
crown)
Root
fracture
Assess:
Nature of fracture
Function
compromised
Fracture extends to
middle third of root
Fracture coronal to
middle third of root
ROOT
RESECTION
EXTRACTION
Assess:
Esthetic consideration
No esthetic
concern
Anterior
esthetics
compromised
Additional Readings
Becker W, Ochsenbein C, Becker BE. Crown lengthening: the periodontalrestorative connection. Compend Cont Educ Dent 1998;19:239.
Johnson RH. Lengthening clinical crowns. J Am Dent Assoc 1990;
121:473.
Pruthi VK. Surgical crown lengthening in periodontics. J Can Dent Assoc
1987;53:911.
Rosenberg M et al. Periodontal and prosthetic management for advanced
cases. Quintessence Int 1988;19:164.
Sivers JE, Johnson GK. Periodontal and restorative considerations for
crown lengthening. Quintessence Int 1985;16:833.
Wagenberg B, Eskow R, Langer B. Exposing adequate tooth structure for
restorative dentistry. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1989;9:323.
Orthodontics
Forced
eruption
MUCOGINGIVAL-OSSEOUS SURGERY
to provide adequate clinical crown
and restore biologic width
297
149
Rapid Extrusion versus Crown-Lengthening Surgery

Salvage of teeth severely compromised by caries, fracture, or large

defective restorations often depends on the extent of damage
below the free gingival margin. A tooth-lengthening procedure is
required when significant structural degradation has occurred.
Periodontal crown-lengthening surgery is a one-step toothlengthening procedure that can expose most defects for restorative correction. This approach removes soft and hard supporting
tissues and moves the attachment level apically. The tooth position remains unchanged. However, this surgery may affect esthetics or the maintenance potential of adjacent teeth. Rapid orthodontic extrusion is an alternative tooth-lengthening method that
also facilitates restoration of compromised teeth. This procedure
moves the residual tooth structure coronally while the soft and
hard supporting tissues remain in their pretreatment locations.
Orthodontic rapid extrusion is indicated when esthetic considerations are critical or when the anatomy of an adjacent tooth and
adjacent coronal restorations would be jeopardized by the surgical apical repositioning of periodontal tissues.
A
298
To be successful over time, restorative procedures must not

invade the attachment apparatus. There must be adequate
sound tooth structure between the lesion and the coronal
extent of the junctional epithelium to place a restorative
margin. The margin generally requires 2 mm of sound tooth
structure coronal to the attachment. Operative invasion of
the attachment often results in gingival recession, periodontal pocket formation, or chronic gingival inflammation.
Retention of the severely damaged tooth requires critical pretreatment evaluation. Accurate prediction of post-treatment
crown-to-root ratio is mandatory. Sufficient periodontal
attachment for the tooth to withstand functional forces
must remain after the procedure. With all other variables
equal, rapid orthodontic extrusion provides a more favorable post-treatment crown-to-root ratio than does periodontal crown-lengthening surgery.
Cylindrical root form greatly enhances the functional
and esthetic components of tooth lengthening. A tapered
root form compromises the remaining periodontal ligament
attachment after either procedure. Likewise, gingival
embrasures are exaggerated when either orthodontics or
surgery is performed on a tapered root.
Esthetic variables have a great impact on the modality selection between rapid orthodontic extrusion and periodontal
crown-lengthening surgery. Patients with great esthetic
expectations and a high lip line may not tolerate the deformity produced by surgery. This defect will be apparent on
the damaged tooth as well as adjacent teeth, in most cases.
Maintenance of free gingival margin symmetry could dictate that surgery be expanded to include the entire anterior
sextant. This surgical expansion exposes root structure on all
included teeth. These significant sequelae may be avoided by
using orthodontics to correct the defect.
The selected modality should not solve one problem while

creating others. Short root trunks or significant developmental grooves on adjacent teeth may be exposed by
surgery and therefore require the damaged tooth to be
extruded. These anatomic findings render a tooth more difficult to maintain if the attachment level is moved apically
using a surgical technique.
Existing coronal restorations on adjacent teeth also influence

the selection of extrusion or surgery. Intracrevicular margins
on adjacent teeth are exposed using conventional periodontal surgical techniques to lengthen the tooth. Restorations
that do not need replacement and demand intracrevicular
margins for esthetics are indications for orthodontic rapid
extrusion of the damaged tooth.
Additional Readings
Biggerstaff R, Sinks J, Carazola J. Orthodontic extrusion and biologic width
realignment procedures: methods for reclaiming nonrestorable teeth.
Kozlovsky A, al H, Lieberman M. Forced eruption combined with gingival
fiberectomy: a technique for crown lengthening. J Clin Periodontol
1988;15:534.
Pontoriero R, Celenza F, Ricci G, Carnevale G. Rapid extrusion with fiber
resection: a combined orthodontic-periodontal treatment modality.
Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1987;5:30.
Rosenberg E, Garber D, Evian C. Tooth lengthening procedures. Compend
Cont Educ Dent 1980;1:161.
Patient REQUIRING FULL-COVERAGE RESTORATION
Assess:
Physiologic dimensions
Adequate; attachment
apparatus intact
Inadequate; attachment apparatus

damaged, tooth lengthening required
Assess:
Crown length for retention of restoration
Inadequate; tooth
lengthening required
Adequate
RESTORE
Esthetics
Critical (high lip line,

symmetry of free
gingival margin)
Assess:
Damaged crown-to-root
ratio after treatment
Root formation
Treatment modality options
Adjacent tooth anatomy
Possible maintenance
compromise, furcations,
developmental depressions
Secondary
Rapid
extrusion
SURGICAL CROWN
LENGTHENING
No maintenance
compromise
Rapid
extrusion
SURGICAL CROWN
LENGTHENING
Adjacent tooth restorations
Adjacent coronal
restorations
adequate, with
intracrevicular
margins
Rapid
extrusion
Adjacent coronal
restorations defective
or satisfactory with
supracrevicular margin
SURGICAL CROWN
LENGTHENING
299
150
Crown Margin Placement

The marginal periodontium includes the area in which the fields

of restorative dentistry and periodontics become intimately
related. This area, although small, is operated in daily by restorative dental practitioners and requires definitive, logical decisions
regarding margin location to facilitate long-term, predictable
results. Although controversy exists, recent literature supports
movement away from margins deep within the gingival crevice
and toward shallow intracrevicular or supragingival placement.
A
Evaluate the tooth in need of restoration on both structural

and esthetic levels before determining margin location.
Clinical findings such as caries, an existing restoration, fractures, cervical erosion, and uncontrollable root sensitivity
may dictate restoration placement below the level of the
free gingival margin. Extension of the preparation into the
gingival crevice may engage enough additional tooth structure to provide the restoration with adequate retention and
resistance form, secure sufficient sound tooth structure for
margin placement, and minimize root sensitivity of nonendodontic origin. The physiologic zones or biologic width present in the area of intracrevicular subgingival margin placement must meet minimal guidelines (Figure 150-1).
Attempts to modify the tooth preparation by apical positioning of the restorative margin are limited by this fragile
tissue complex. Violation of this width may result in gingival inflammation, loss of crestal bone, and pocket formation
or apical migration of the marginal tissue. If structural problems cannot be solved without destroying the integrity of
the biologic width, surgical lengthening of the clinical crown

or orthodontic extrusion is indicated to reestablish this zone.
C
Esthetic requirements may dictate intracrevicular (subgingival) margin location despite other clinical findings that
may allow supragingival placement. Determine margin
location with respect to esthetics using a combination of
factors including tooth position, visibility of margin area
during function, and the patients understanding of the
objectives of the restorative effort. If esthetics are important, the crevice should be entered minimally, with the
restoration usually from 0.5 to 1 mm apically to the free
gingival margin. A restorative attempt to hide a metal collar within the anatomic confines of a shallow, healthy
crevice often is not possible without compromising esthetics or sacrificing biologic width. Such conflicts between
esthetics and tissue health may best be resolved by minimal
entrance into the crevice and use of a porcelain shoulder
margin or a margin supported by metal but without a visible
metal collar. If esthetics are secondary and structural evaluation permits, locate restorative margins outside the gingival
crevice. Such margins are more accurately prepared, predictably registered, and accessible for evaluation, finishing,
and patient maintenance. Patients who require restoration
after periodontal therapy that apically respositions gingival
tissue pose additional complexities. If esthetics are important, the restorative practitioner must first carefully establish
that a gingival crevice has indeed reformed postsurgically;
placing a restorative margin under the tissue level if no
crevice exists may lead to breakdown of the tissue complex,
pocket formation, and apical migration of the gingiva. Second, an attempt to locate margins within the gingival
crevice of an elongated tooth requires additional axial wall
reduction with possible pulpal encroachment. If possible,
postsurgical margins should be left above the treated tissue
level and exposed furcations.
Additional Readings
Figure 150-1 Restorative margins located apically to the free gingival

margin must terminate, as in A, enter into B, or they may cause breakdown of the attachment apparatus (C).
300
Nevins M, Skurow HM. The intracrevicular restorative margin, the biologic width, and maintenance of the gingival margin. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1984;3:31.
Schluger S et al. Periodontal disease. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger; 1990. p. 586.
Shillingburg HT, Hobo S, Whitsett DL. Fundamentals of fixed prosthodontics. 2nd ed. Berlin: Quintessence Publishing; 1981. p. 79.
Wilson RD, Maynard G. Intracrevicular restorative dentistry. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 1981;4:35.
Patient for RESTORATIVE MARGIN LOCATION
Evaluate potential restoration:

Structure
Esthetics
Tooth structure evaluation
Consider:
Retention and
resistance form
Esthetic evaluation
Assess:
Clinical findings
Presence of
root sensitivity
Consider:
Structural
soundness
Conservative
therapy
Adequate
Adequate
Inadequate
Inadequate
Reestablish
PERIODONTAL
CROWN
LENGTHENING
Reestablish
surgically
CORONAL
BUILDUP
No
resolution
PERIODONTAL
CROWN
LENGTHENING
ORTHODONTIC
EXTRUSION
Reassess:
Sensitivity
ORTHODONTIC
EXTRUSION
Determine:
Structural need for
subgingival margin
Resolution
Endodontic evaluation
with or without root
canal treatment
Tooth structure
adequate
Determine:
Esthetic need for
subgingival margin
Tooth structure
minimal
Esthetics
important
Esthetics
secondary
Esthetics
important
Subgingival
margin
Supragingival
margin
Subgingival
margin
Esthetics
secondary
Supragingival
margin
301
151
When to Use Localized Chemotherapeutic Agents

Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, Roberto Rotundo, Leonardo Muzzi, and Tiziano Baccetti
The ideal characteristics for a chemotherapeutic agent include

the following: (1) safety; (2) efficacy; (3) adequate substantivity;
(4) specific effect on pathogenic flora; and (5) acceptable taste,
cost, and ease of use. In daily practice, these agents could be
administered locally or systemically. In periodontics, the
chemotherapeutic agents that are used are usually administered
employing local delivery devices. These localized chemotherapeutic agents release the drug into the tooth pocket and achieve
and maintain effective concentration of the active agent for the
period required to control the subgingival infection.
A
Localized chemotherapeutic agents should be used only in

conjunction with adequate measures to disperse the bacterial
plaque biofilm. Scaling, root planing, and, if necessary, surgical therapy are needed for this. An appropriate supportive
periodontal care program must be in place to control the
plaque accumulation after the surgical or nonsurgical therapy.
During this phase, the patient is regularly recalled so that the
level of plaque control can be evaluated, with scaling and root
planing appointments when signs of inflammation are present. Patient motivation and performance are critical.
Systemic antibiotic therapy seems to be most beneficial as an

adjunct to mechanical therapy to control infections at generalized residual deep pockets in patients with persistent disease
or in patients who continue to lose attachment, despite the
periodontal therapy performed. Cases of juvenile periodontitis or severe generalized adult periodontitis may benefit from
systemic antibiotic therapywhich represents a more efficient and cost-effective choice of therapy in these cases.
302
Patients selected for treatment with localized chemotherapeutic agents are adults who have been treated for periodontitis and are now enrolled in the maintenance phase
presenting with isolated nonresponding sites that show a
pocket depth over 5 mm and that bleed on probing. Mechan-
ical root treatment is combined with the application of a

chemotherapeutic agent using local delivery devices.
D
Local delivery devices can be divided into two classes on the

basis of the time it takes for the agent to be released: (1) sustained delivery devices (drug release for less than 24 hours) and
(2) controlled delivery devices (drug release for more than 1 day).
At present, only five chemotherapeutic agents are commercially available: tetracycline fibers, metronidazole gel, minocycline ointment, chlorhexidine chip, and doxycycline polymer.
A periodontal abscess is defined as a lesion with severe

periodontal breakdown, occurring during a limited period,
with easily detectable clinical symptoms and localized
accumulation of pus within the periodontal pocket. There
is not enough scientific evidence to provide a unique treatment regimen for periodontal abscesses. Different therapeutic approaches have been proposed, such as drainage
and dbridement, systemic antibiotic administration with
or without dbridement, surgical approaches, or dbridement with localized chemotherapeutic agents using local
delivery devices.
Additional Readings
American Academy of Periodontology. Position paper: the role of controlled drug delivery for periodontitis. J Periodontol 2000;71:125.
Drisko CH. Nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Periodontology 2000 2001;
25:77.
Hancock EB, Newell DH. Preventive strategies and supportive treatment. Periodontology 2000 2001;25:59.
Herrera D, Roln S, Sanz M. The periodontal abscess: a review. J Clin
Tonetti MS. The topical use of antibiotics in periodontal pockets. Proceedings of the 2nd European Workshop on Periodontology; 1996.
p. 78109.
A Patient for WHOM A CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACH IS BEING CONSIDERED
Determine:
Type of PERIODONTAL DISEASE
PERIODONTITIS
ACUTE PERIODONTAL
ABSCESS
Periodontal therapy
Maintenance
Recurrence
Drainage +
dbridement
Health status
Monitor
Dbridement + Localized
chemotherapeutic agents
Determine:
Localization and
severity of problem
Isolated deep pockets

(pocket depth > 5mm)
Scaling
Root planing
Generalized deep pockets
Systemic antibiotics
with or without
other treatments
REEVALUATION
Localized chemotherapeutic
agents (local delivery devices)
Retreatment
Tetracycline
fibers
Metronidazole
gel
Minocycline
ointment
Chlorhexidine
chip
Doxycycline
polymer
REEVALUATION
303
152
Laser Surgery in Periodontics

Scott W. Milliken
Since their introduction in 1962, lasers have been attractive

alternatives to scalpel surgical techniques involving soft-tissue
procedures (which are the only procedures universally recognized as legitimate periodontal uses of lasers at this time). The use
of a surgical laser has many advantages over traditional scalpel
surgery for a number of periodontal procedures. Treatment with
carbon dioxide (CO2) and neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet
(Nd-YAG) lasers has been shown to be advantageous in soft-tissue
removal and in recontouring procedures.
During laser surgery, bleeding is almost completely eliminated, creating a dry field with optimal visibility. This may, in
many cases, reduce operating time greatly. Lymphatic vessels in
the surgical field also are sealed during laser procedures, resulting in limited postoperative swelling. Lasers are significantly
easier than is the scalpel in negotiating the curves, contours,
and folds of the mouth, which also may reduce surgical time.
Postoperative pain is reduced or eliminated 90% of the time,
apparently because of sealing the peripheral nerve fibers. Lasers
cause minimal or no scarring, and suturing is almost never
needed. Bacterial counts in a laser field are reduced, which may
minimize the chance of infection. A laser can cut, coagulate, and
vaporize or ablate tissue, depending on the power-setting focus.
A
304
Treatment of generalized or localized gingival enlargement

may be facilitated with a surgical laser. Laser gingivectomy
offers several advantages over scalpel surgery such as less
bleeding, no packing needed, better postoperative contours,
and a blood-free field. A smoother postoperative course
may be a big advantage for treatment of mentally challenged or handicapped patients.
Lasers may be well suited to crown-lengthening procedures
needed because of excess soft tissue and uneven gingival
margins. Excessive tissue may be removed quickly and easily with a laser to expose additional tooth surface for
restorative needs or esthetic demands. The practitioner
must take care not to violate the biologic width. This may
be prevented by sounding for the position of the alveolar
crest relative to the proposed new tissue level. If the biologic width space will be compromised, traditional crownlengthening techniques must be used.
C
The repositioning or elimination of an aberrant frenum is a

procedure extremely well suited to the laser. Surgical time
for maxillary midline frenectomies is dramatically reduced
because the laser vaporizes the tissue and eliminates the
need for sutures and hemostasis. Postoperative pain medications are eliminated in nearly 100% of the cases, and no
postoperative scarring is encountered. Laser frenectomies
often are completed in 30 seconds as the skill and comfort
level of the surgeon increases.
Laser biopsies may be performed as alternatives to scalpel

biopsies in all instances. The principles, treatment goals,
and protocols regarding tissue sampling and pathologic
analysis are the same as they are for scalpel procedures.
Potential seeding of malignant lesions may possibly be
reduced with the laser. The hemostatic nature of lasers is
particularly advantageous for biopsies involving highly vascular areas such as the tongue and buccal mucosa. Biopsies
often may be done faster, but deep lingual resectioning
requires suturing. An interesting note is that lasers offer
relief from painful aphthous ulcers. This does not speed
healing, but patients report pain relief after low-power laser
application. The need for local anesthetic remains.
Additional Readings
Carranza FA Jr, Newman MJ. Clinical periodontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia:
Pick RM, Pecaro BC, Silberman CJ. The laser gingivectomy: the use of
CO2 laser for the removal of phenytoin hyperplasia. J Periodontol
56:492.
Pogrel MA, Yen CK, Hansen LS. A comparison of carbon dioxide laser,
liquid nitrogen cryotherapy and scalpel wounds in healing. Oral
Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1990;69:269.
Patient for LASER SURGICAL TREATMENT
Assess:
Type or problem
Gingival
enlargement
Determine:
If alveolar defects
are present
Need for crown

lengthening
Frenum
problem
Determine:
Whether biologic width will
be violated by laser surgery
Neoplasm
Determine:
Whether biopsy is needed
No
Yes
MUCOGINGIVAL
OSSEOUS
SURGERY
No
Yes
CROWN LENGTHENING BY
USUAL SURGICAL MEANS
Yes
No
LASER
SURGERY
Follow with
appropriate
care
SCALPEL
BIOPSY
SCALPEL
GINGIVECTOMY
LASER
SURGERY
SCALPEL
FRENECTOMY
LASER
BIOPSY
LASER
FRENECTOMY
305
153
Host Modulation Therapy

Host modulation therapy is a relatively new therapeutic option

for the clinician treating periodontitis. It is well established that
bacteria are the primary etiology for inflammatory periodontal
disease, but much of the damage (bone and attachment loss)
occurs as a result of the release of cytokines, prostaglandins, and
matrix metalloproteinases by the host. Research has demonstrated that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, collagenase
inhibitors, and bisphosphonates (inhibit bone resorption) can be
useful adjuncts in controlling inflammatory periodontal disease;
however, at this time, only one host modulating medication
(Periostat) has been approved as an adjunct to scaling and root
planing for the treatment of periodontitis. Periostat has received
the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance as a
chemotherapeutic product to slow or arrest periodontitis.
A
306
Periodontal maintenance patients that are not well controlled should be considered for host modulation therapy.
Periostat (20 mg doxycycline) is a collagenase inhibitor and
is generally taken twice daily for a period of 3 to 9 months.
Patients presenting for initial therapy should be evaluated

for periodontal risk factors. Smokers and diabetics should
certainly be considered for combining Periostat with conventional dbridement therapy. Patients with low-risk factors should be dbrided initially followed by a reevaluation.
If the inflammatory disease is well controlled, they can be
placed on a periodontal maintenance program. If the disease is not controlled, then combining Periostat with further dbridement and/or surgery should be considered.
Additional Readings
Caton JG et al. Treatment with subantimicrobial dose doxycycline
improves the efficacy of scaling and root planing in patients with
adult periodontitis. J Periodontol 2000;April:521.
Waller C et al. Long-term treatment with subantimicrobial dose doxycycline exerts no antimicrobial effect on the subgingival microflora associated with adult periodontitis. J Periodontal 2000;September:1465.
Patient for HOST MODULATION THERAPY
Determine:
New or repeat patient?
Patient in periodontal
maintenance program
Patient for
initial therapy
Determine:
Severity of risk factors
Low
High
Dbridement
Dbridement
combined with
Periostat
Reevaluation
Determine:
Has disease been controlled?
Inflammatory
disease controlled
Inflammatory disease
not controlled
Periodontal
maintenance
program
Periostat combined
with dbridement/
surgery
307
Index
Abrasion
causing dentin hypersensitivity, 282
Abscesses, 230
acute periodontal
treatment of, 138, 210
draining chronic alveolar, 140
gingival
characteristics of, 140
treatment of, 138
periodontal, 22
emergency treatment of, 102
pulpal pathology, 62
Absorbable barrier membrane
and bone graft, 162
Abutments
crucial, 156
fracture of, 256
free-standing premolar pier, 136
guided tissue regeneration, 100
implants as, 252253
loosening of, 256
loss of attachment, 100
nonmobile, 136
orthodontic movement of, 256
overdenture
predisposed tooth, 110
potential
crown status of, 100
periodontally compromised, 100101
pulpal status of, 100
through-and-through furcation
involvement, 154
resected molar
fixed prosthesis, 146147
titanium, 258
Accelerator, 280
Accidents, 230
automobile, 22
Acetaminophen, 210
Acid-etched surface, 254
Acquired centric, 44
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS), 2, 4, 24, 52, 140, 240
split interdental papillae, 20
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, 10, 50
treatment of, 102
Actinomyces, 257
Actisite, 102
Activated attapulgite, 69
Active recession, 42
vs stability, 108109
Acute periodontal abscesses
Acute (symptomatic) problems, 76
Adjacent teeth
to single edentulous space, 250
Adjunctive devices, 8
hard-to-reach areas, 96f
Adjunctive plaque-control devices, 9697
Adult orthodontics
occlusal trauma, 134135
308
Age
attached gingiva, 106
dentin hypersensitivity, 282
esthetics, 276
esthetic smile design, 270
flossing, 96
fully bony impacted wisdom tooth, 288
initial periodontal examination, 12
linear IgA disease, 69
microbial tests, 11
prognosis, 72
selective grinding vs splinting, 130131
soft-tissue impact-third molar, 284
treatment plan, 2
treatment sequence
orthodontics, 112
pure mucogingival problem, 112
vertical intrabony defects
distal to second molars, 292
Aggressive periodontitis, 76
pain, 210
AIDS. See Acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS)
Ailing
definition of, 256
Ailing implants
etiology of, 256257
evaluation of, 256
preoperative radiograph of, 260f
surgical management of, 260261
Alcohol, 280
consumption of, 3
Alcohol abuse
prognosis, 72
Alcohol dependency, 240
Alkaline phosphatase, 5
Allergens, 2, 4
Allergic mucositis, 69
Allergies, 4
Allografts
decalcified freeze-dried bone, 192
freeze-dried bone, 162
Altered cast impression technique, 136
Altered host response, 66
Alveolar bone
full-mouth radiographic evaluation of, 12
ideal, 240
for implants, 242
loss of
radiographic evidence of, 12
reestablishing support in, 116
Amalgam plugger, 166
American Dental Association
Council on Dental Therapeutics
antiplaque/antigingivitis agents, 102
American Indian
gingival color, 16
Ampulation. See Root ampulation
Amoxicillin, 102
Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, 102
Amoxicillin/penicillin, 102
Analgesics, 210
for periodontal abscess, 138
Anatomic crowns
incomplete exposure of, 266
Anesthesia
free gingival graft, 216f
Anesthetic mouthwashes
for herpetic gingivostomatitis, 76
Angular bone defects, 3637
Angulation
of radiographs, 34
Anterior teeth
esthetic concerns about, 262
maximal biting forces, 252
Antes law, 250
Antibiotic prophylaxis, 2, 4
Antibiotics, 102103
vs conventional periodontal therapy, 102
GTR, 160
for periimplantitis, 258
for periodontal abscess, 76, 138
for primary acute herpetic
gingivostomatitis in, 54
prior to pharmacologic pain
management, 210
side effects of, 102
Antibody titer, 4
Anticoagulants
prognosis, 72
Anticonvulsants
residual root, 146
Antimicrobial rinses, 102
Antimicrobials, 102103
ANUG. See Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Apex
radiolucent zone, 62
APF. See Apically positioned flap (APF)
Aphthae
bony prominences, 188
lidocaine for, 210
Aphthous stomatitis, 52
differential diagnosis of, 54
Aphthous ulcers, 142
Apically positioned flap (APF), 180181,
184, 276f
for augmentation before implantation, 246
esthetics of, 276
with free gingival graft
for more attached gingiva, 228229
furcations, 190
incision for, 180
with osseous recontouring, 196, 212
with partial denudation
reevaluation after, 236
retention of, 280
in smile design, 272
superficial impaction, 114
Aplastic anemia, 4
Apprehension
allaying, 278
Arch coordination, 135
Arestin, 102
Arthritis, 3
flossing, 96
Index
Articulation paper, 135

Artificial valves, 2
Asbestos, 280
Ascending ramus
monocortical onlay grafts from, 242
Asians
gingival color, 16
Asymptomatic problems, 76
Atraumatic surgical techniques, 210
Atridox, 102
Atrisorb membrane
for GTR
placement of, 166167
preparation of, 166167
site selection for, 164165
Attached gingiva, 106
adequate band of, 120
clinically vs histologically, 106f
creating, 228
establishing adequacy of, 106107
evaluation of, 176
inflamed CGE, 140
little or no, 108
requirement for more, 228229
Augmentation, 276
Augmentin, 102
Autogenous bone, 245, 261
Autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder
chronic, 69
Automobile accidents, 22
Avitene, 280
Bacterial plaque, 102
Bacteroides forsythus, 10
Bacteroides intermedius, 50
Barrier membranes, 162
Base, 280
-blockers, 3
B cells, 4
Behavioral approach
to recall visits, 238239
Benign mucous membrane (cicatricial)
pemphigoid, 68
Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid
(BMMP), 68
with conjunctival scarring, 68f
histopathologic section of, 68f
immunofluorescent section of, 68f
Bilirubin test, 4
Bioactive peptides, 245
Bisexuals, 20, 24
Birchwood sticks, 9699
Bite guard, 124
secondary occlusal trauma, 126
Bite problems
history of, 6
Bite-wing radiographs, 14
position of, 32
Black people
gingival color, 16
-lactamase inhibitor, 102
Blade incision
for gingival abscess, 138
Bleeding on probing, 12
Bleeding profile, 5
Bleeding time, 66
Blood
continuous supply of
adverse effects on, 244
during healing, 220
Blood clot, 292
Blood dyscrasias, 240
Blood pressure
abnormalities of, 2
baseline of, 2
Blood sugar
fasting, 4
Blood supply
maintenance of, 182
Blood urea nitrogen, 4
Blow
to mouth, 22
Blue circumscribed gingival enlargements
(CGEs), 140
BMMP. See Benign mucous membrane
pemphigoid (BMMP)
Bone
disturbances of
tests for, 5
quality of
classification of, 240
implant, 250
for implants, 240, 244
quantity of
surgical overheating of, 256
Bone fill
definition of, 194
Bone fill regenerative procedures, 190191
application of, 192193
graft materials for, 192
Bone-grafting materials
choice of, 261
Bone grafts, 174, 177, 260
and absorbable barrier membrane, 162
alone, 162
extraoral autogenous, 192
intraoral autogenous, 192
Bone loss, 88
interpretation on radiographs, 3435
masking primary periodontal conditions,
144
Bone regeneration, 100
Bone sculpting, 186
Bone support
for implants, 242
Bovine porous bone mineral (BPBM), 192
Bovine xenographic material, 104
BPBM, 192
Braided Dacron-coated Teflon, 206
Braun brush, 97
Breath
pungent odor of, 24
Bridges
cantilevered
involvement, 154
fixed, 230, 256

splinting with, 236
history of, 6
Brown circumscribed gingival enlargements
(CGEs), 140
Brush, 97
Bruxism, 56, 124, 256
history of, 6
occupational, 124
recreational, 124
trauma relating to, 132
Buccally erupting teeth
gingiva, 114
Buccal tissue
augmentation of thickness of, 246
Buccal version, 290
Buccolingual thickness
recession
orthodontic movement, 114
Bulleidia extructa, 52, 66
Bullous lichen planus, 68
CAF, 224
Calcium hydroxide
for dentin hypersensitivity, 282
Calcium sulfate, 192
Calculus
long-term heavy buildup of, 20
Campylobacter rectus, 10
Cancer, 2, 4
Cancrum oris (noma), 142143
Candida, 64
Canine disclusion
vs group function, 128129
working side contacts, 128f
Canines
APF, 180
recession
after crown placement, 110f
esthetic impact of, 268
support, 198
Cantilevered bridges
involvement, 154
Capnocytophaga ochraceus, 50
Cardiac function
evaluation of, 4
Cardiac pacemaker, 86
Cardiovascular disease, 4
Caries, 290
hopeless teeth, 74
CCD, 38
CD4/CD8 platelet count, 4
CD4+/CD8+ ratio, 66
CD4 count, 20, 21, 24
CEJ, 178, 224
Cellulitis, 62
Cementoenamel junction (CEJ), 178
gingival margin apical to, 224
Central giant cell granuloma, 140
Central incisors
with inadequate attached gingiva, 42f
309
Index
Centric occlusion (CO), 44

Centric relation (CR), 44
Cephalexin, 102
Cephalometric film
for implants, 240
CGEs, 140141
Charged coupled device (CCD), 38
Charting, 236
Chemical plaque control, 102
Chemical stimuli, 282
Chemotherapy, 2
topical application of, 258
Children
NUG, 142
overbite/overjet discrepancy
orthodontics, 112
primary acute herpetic gingivostomatitis
in, 54
toothbrushing of, 94
Chin
monocortical onlay grafts from, 242
Chlorhexidine, 102
effectiveness of, 102103
for HIV periodontitis, 76
for linear gingival erythema, 66
for NUG, 52
safety of, 102103
short-term use of, 103
Chlorhexidine gluconate, 102, 168
Chlorhexidine mouth rinses, 66
Choices
disclosure of, 278
Chronic autoimmune mucocutaneous
disorder, 69
Chronic inflammatory gingival
enlargement, 58
treatment of, 138
Chronic periodontitis, 4647, 50, 5253
pain, 210
treatment of, 76
Chronic traumatic contact
of gingiva, 116
Cicatricial pemphigoid, 68
Cigarette smoking. See Smoking
Ciprofloxacin, 102
contraindications for, 102
Circumscribed gingival enlargements
(CGEs), 140141
Cirrhosis, 2
Citric acid, 220, 260
Class I furcations, 28
GTR, 168
molars, 152
recording of, 92
Class II furcations, 28, 100
Atrisorb membrane, 164
bone fill regenerative procedures, 190
GTR, 88, 144
molar, 152
osseous resection, 192
recording of, 92
Class III furcations, 28, 100, 154155
310
Atrisorb membrane, 164

bone fill regenerative procedures, 190
good adjacent abutments, 154f
GTR, 88, 152
hemisection, 164
hopeless teeth, 74
recording of, 92
Class V restoration, 110, 120, 220
Clavulanic acid, 102
Cleanings
frequency of, 6
Clenching, 124
history of, 6
Clindamycin, 102
adverse effects of, 102
Clinical attachment levels, 12
Clinical crowns
length of, 266
short, 266
Clinistix strips, 4
Clinitest tablets, 4
Closure, 188f
Clotting problems
prognosis, 72
CO, 44
Codeine, 210
Coe Pak, 208, 232
Cold packs, 210
Collagen, 192
Collagen disease, 240
Color
of gingiva, 1617
Colycote, 232, 280
Combination techniques, 192
Combined lesion, 62
Commercial mouth rinses, 102
Communication
general practitioner
periodontist referral, 8081
Composite buildups, 276
Composite splint, 212
Compromised dexterity
flossing, 96
Compromised patient, 238
Computer-aided occlusal evaluation system,
135
Computer tomographic scans
Congenital epulis, 141
Conjunctival scarring
benign mucous membrane pemphigoid
with, 68f
Connective tissue graft (CTG), 88, 221, 223
covering roots, 122123
donor site for
dressing for, 232
esthetics, 122
vs GTR, 218219, 226
vs guided tissue regeneration, 218219,
226
for multiple adjacent gingival recessions,
226227
optimal donor site for, 122
recession, 108, 120

for root coverage of localized gingival
recession, 224
on thin soft tissue ridge, 246
for tooth restoration, 235
Contaminated aerosols
ultrasonic instrumentation, 86
Contrast, 32
Conventional oral hygiene aids, 258
Coronally advanced flap (CAF), 224
Coronally positioned flap technique,
220221
advantage of, 220
combined with root conditioning, 220
Coronally positioned pedicle graft, 220221
using Emdogain, 222
Cortical plate
fracture of, 230
Cortical projections
reshaping of, 188
Corticosteroids
for desquamative gingivitis, 69
healing delay, 3
prolonged use of, 240
Cosmetic treatment
and informed consent, 278
Cost, 238
of connective tissue graft, 226
of GTR, 174, 226
osseous dehiscences, 176
of guided tissue regeneration, 174, 226
of plaque control, 8
of prophylaxis, 82
of selective grinding vs splinting, 130131
of surgery vs repetitive root planing, 84
Counseling, 124
Cox-2 inhibitors, 210
CPK, 4
CR, 44
Cracked roots, 100
Cracked tooth, 202
in molars, 98
radiographic periapical radiolucency, 71
vertical periodontal defect resulting
from, 70f
Cracked tooth syndrome, 22, 7071, 70f,
290
prognosis, 74
Cracks
visual examination for, 22
Crater, 200f
Crater defects, 190
Crater-type two-walled osseous defect,
200201
Creatine, 4
Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), 4
Crestal bone
osteoplasty, 188
Crossbites, 134
Crowns, 120
anatomic
incomplete exposure of, 266
Index
clinical
length of, 266
short, 266
for cracked tooth syndrome, 70
gold, 40
gold-alloy, 40
history of, 6
ideal length of, 276f
insufficient height of
restorative dentistry, 116
reshaping of, 276
status of
of potential abutment, 100
surgical lengthening of, 266
three-quarter
grafting, 110
Crown-to-root ratio, 146, 242, 250, 252
Crucial abutments, 156
CTG. See Connective tissue graft (CTG)
Curete, 138
dbridement, 98
Curved (Nabers) periodontal probes, 192
Cuspid rise
vs group function, 128129
Cyanocrylate dressings, 232
Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) inhibitors, 210
Cyclosporine
gingival enlargement, 58f
Cysts, 288
epithelial lining of, 288
Debilitating hepatitis, 240
Dbridement, 76, 98, 258
for abscess, 138
prior to pharmacologic pain
management, 210
Decalcified freeze-dried bone (DFDB)
allografts, 192
Decision making
for implants, 240241
Deep fluting
roots
maxillary first molar, 96f
Deep intrabony defects
GTR, 178
Deep osseous defects
Deep pockets, 242
Deep two-walled infrabony crater
GTR, 90f
Deep wide recession
complete coverage of, 220
Definite furcation involvement (Class II).
See Class II furcation
Dehiscence, 214215, 214f
definition of, 214
Dehydration
in herpetic gingivostomatitis, 76
Demineralized freeze-dried bone, 245
Denatured alcohol, 280
Dense nonresorbable hydroxyapatite, 261
Dental examination
GTR, 174
Dental history, 67
Dental skills and experience
prognosis, 72
Dental tape
with thickened areas, 96
Dentigerous cyst, 288
Dentinal collagen
exposure of, 220
Dentin hypersensitivity, 282283
treatment of, 282
Dentitions
localized worn, 134
Denudation, 196, 228229
definition of, 228
utilization of, 232
Denuded bone
protection of, 280
Dermatologic disease, 3
Desensitizing toothpaste, 282
Desquamative gingivitis, 6869
characterization of, 68
with generalized diffuse erythema, 68f
in postmenopausal women, 69
treatment of, 76
Detoxification procedures, 260
Detoxified freeze-dried bone allograph,
261
Developing countries
NUG
incidence of, 142
Development time
of radiographs, 34
Dexterity, 102
DFDB allografts, 192
Diabetes, 2, 4, 240, 244
cancrum oris, 143
prognosis, 72
residual root, 146
surgery, 150
Dialister, 52, 66
Dialysis patients, 20
Diamond bur
subgingival use of, 43
Dietary counseling
Differential white blood cell count, 4
Digital radiographs, 3839
Dilantin, 2
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride, 69
Diphenylhydantoin sodium (Dilantin), 2
Disabled patients
Disclosure of risks, 278
Discussion
of esthetic impact of periodontal therapy
with patient, 265
Distal extension, 136
Distal extension removable partial dentures,
137
Distal furcation
on first molar, 226f
Distal wedge procedure, 206

Diverging roots
of maxillary incisors, 116
Donor site
for connective tissue graft, 122
dressing for, 232
for free gingival graft
dressing for, 232
Double abutting, 136, 250
Double bite, 124
Double papilla flap (DPF), 224
Doxycycline, 102
Doxycycline gel, 102
DPF, 224
Drainage
for abscess, 138
for periodontal abscess, 138
Draining chronic alveolar abscesses, 140
Dressings
benefits of, 280
composition of, 280
disadvantages of, 208
following pure mucogingival surgery,
232233
following surgery, 208209
guidelines for, 208
purposes of, 208
Drug abuse
prognosis, 72
Drug abuser
intravenous
linear gingival erythema, 64f
NUP, 64f
Drug dependency, 240
Drug-induced gingival enlargement, 138
Drug interactions, 210
Drug toxicity, 4
Drug use, 3, 4
intravenous, 24
recreational, 20
Duty of care, 278
Easy bleeding, 16, 21, 24
Echocardiogram, 4
Ectopic tooth
eruption of
orthodontics, 114
Edentulous ridge, 230231
evaluation of, 250
flattening of, 188
modification, 188
Edentulous space
mesiodistal dimension of, 252
Edge-to-edge position, 45
EFGGs
recession, 224
Eikenella corrodens, 10, 50
Electric pulp testing, 22
Electric toothbrush, 8, 258
Electrocardiogram, 4
Electrosurgery
ELISA, 4
311
Index
EMD, 192
Emdogain, 182
in coronally positioned pedicle graft, 222
Enamel matrix derivative (EMD), 192
Enamel plasty, 276
Endocrine disease, 4
Endodontically treated teeth
history of, 6
Endodontic problems
vs periodontal problems, 6263
Endo-perio syndrome, 62
Endosseous blade implants, 243
Endosseous root form implants, 242
Endotoxin
detoxification of, 220
End-tuft brush, 97
Enlarged follicle, 288
Eosinophils, 4
Epithelium free-standing gingival grafts
(EFGGs)
recession, 224
ePTFE, 168, 170, 174177, 192
Erosion
Erosive lichen planus, 68
Erupted wisdom tooth
extraction of, 290291
Eruption cysts, 140
Erythema multiforme, 68, 69
Esthetic needs, 262263
age, 276
with coronally positioned pedicle graft,
220
free gingival margin contour, 274275
and gingival augmentation, 268269
GTR, 178179
with high lip line, 266267
and implants, 244
with implant-supported restorations, 254
maxillary lip line, 272273
and smile design, 270271
teeth proportions, 276277
Esthetic smile design
component parts of, 271f
Estrogen
Ethibond, 206
Ethylene oxide, 22
Etidocaine, 210
Eubacterium, 10
Eugenol dressings, 280
European approach
to GTR
membrane selection, 168169
European view
mucogingival needs
orthodontics, 114115
Evaporative stimuli, 282
Excessive overbite
gingival lesions
incisors, 116
312
Excessive overjet angle, 116

Exophitic lesions, 140
Exostoses, 140
ramped, 186
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE),
170, 174, 176, 177, 192
GTR, 179
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene
membrane, 248249, 292
Exposure
of radiographs, 34
Extraoral autogenous bone grafts, 192
Faceting, 56
Facial cortical plates, 200
Facial loading forces, 252
Failed implants
etiology of, 256257
Failing
definition of, 256
Failing implants
etiology of, 256257
evaluation of, 256
Fasting blood sugar, 4
Faulty restorations
surgical exposure, 188
Fear
allaying, 278
surgery, 104
vs repetitive root planing, 84
Fenestration, 214215, 214f
definition of, 214
Ferric oxalate
Fetor oris, 65
FGG
prophylactic, 118
FGM, 272275
Fiberoptic light
transillumination with, 22
Fiberoptic probes, 182
Fibrotic gingival enlargement, 58, 138
Film
angulation of, 32
First molar
distal furcation on, 152f, 226f
one-walled defect, 198f
First premolar
with vertical crack, 70f
Fishing, 124
Fistula
gingival crevice, 62
vestibular zone, 62
Fixed bridges, 230, 256
splinting with, 236
Fixed-interval recall visits, 238
Fixed partial denture (FPD), 136, 250
three-unit, 250
Fixed prosthesis
abutment
resected molar, 146147
Fixture modification, 260
Flap
curettage of, 182, 190
dbridement of, 170, 182
mobilization of
in coronally positioned pedicle graft,
222
Flap design
esthetics of, 274
for root coverage
with coronally positioned pedicle
graft, 220f
Flap procedure
for hereditary gingival fibromatosis, 138
need for, 138
Floss, 258
Floss cuts, 8, 96
Floss holder, 96
Flossing, 8
age, 96
arthritis, 96
compromised dexterity, 96
handicaps, 96
Flucinonide
Fluid balance
Fluoride
Food
entrapment of, 288
impaction of, 32
long-time, 22
Foreign bodies
impacted in gingival sulci, 76
impacted in periodontal pockets, 76
in sulcus, 22
FPD, 136, 250
Fracture
hopeless teeth, 74
Fractured restoration
Fractured tooth, 282
Free gingival graft, 88, 216217, 220, 221
and apically positioned flap
donor site for
dressing for, 232
preoperative view of, 217f
receptor site for, 232
root coverage, 216
for tooth restoration, 235
utilization of, 216
without root coverage, 120
Free gingival margin contour
esthetic needs, 274275
Free gingival margin (FGM), 272
of lateral incisors, 274
zenith of, 274
Index
Free graft procedures, 220

predictability of, 220
Free soft-tissue autografts, 220
Free-standing gingival grafts (FGG)
prophylactic, 118
Free-standing premolar pier abutments, 136
Free-standing soft-tissue grafts
recession, 224
Freeze-dried bone, 192
Freeze-dried bone allografts, 162
Freeze-dried bone grafting materials, 170
Frenectomy, 272
smile after, 272f
Frenum pull, 222, 224
Full arches, 134
Full-coverage cast restorations, 250
Full-mouth radiographs
for GTR, 160
Full-mouth reconstruction, 124
Fully bony impacted wisdom tooth
Functional anterior crossbite, 134
Functional horizontal overlap, 252
Functional incisal loading
categorization of, 252
Furca-finder, 28, 92
radiolucent zone, 62
Furcations, 12, 9293, 192, 242. See also
Class I, II, III; individual types
GTR, 172173
hopeless teeth, 74
molar teeth, 9293
on multirooted tooth
exploration of, 100
recording of, 92f
types of, 2829
Fused roots, 152
molar teeth, 100f
Fusobacterium, 52, 66, 142
Fusobacterium nucleatum, 10
Gastrointestinal ulcers, 210
GBA, 230
Gender
linear IgA disease, 69
Generalized aggressive periodontitis, 50
Generalized diffuse erythema
desquamative gingivitis with, 68f
Generalized informed consent forms, 278
Generalized juvenile periodontitis, 50
Generalized loose teeth, 130
Generalized periodontal pain, 2425
Generalized primary occlusal trauma, 124
Generalized recession, 42
General practitioner
Genetic susceptibility
to periodontal disease, 146
Gingiva
assessment of
in coronally positioned pedicle graft,
222
attached. See Attached gingiva

blade incision for
abscesses, 138
bleeding of, 1617
buccally erupting teeth, 114
chronic traumatic contact of, 116
color change of, 1617
with coronally positioned pedicle graft,
220
creating attached, 228
red, 16
requirement for more attached, 228229
shape of, 270
Gingival abscesses
blade incision for, 138
treatment of, 138
Gingival augmentation, 88
and esthetic needs, 268269
need for
around implants, 246
orthodontics, 112113
restorative plans, 110111
Gingival augmentation procedures, 241
Gingival crevice
fistula, 62
Gingival cysts, 140
Gingival defects
treatment planning for, 204
Gingival dimension
increase of, 268
Gingival enlargement, 5859, 76
cyclosporine, 58f
drug-induced, 138
fibrotic, 58, 138
inflammatory, 138
chronic, 58, 138
recurrence of, 138
treatment of, 138139
Gingival exposure
in smile, 264
Gingival exudate, 12
Gingival fibromatosis, 138, 141
Gingival grafts
dressing for, 232
need assessment for, 268
requiring tooth restoration, 235
without root coverage, 236237
Gingival index, 12
Gingival inflammation
reduction of, 102
Gingival inlay
for ridge augmentation, 230231
Gingival lesions
incisors
excessive overbite, 116
Gingival margin
apical to cementoenamel junction, 224
Gingival problems
history of, 6
Gingival recession, 221

definition of, 224
determination of, 268
etiology of, 224
treatment of
indications for, 224
Gingival recontouring
planning of, 270
Gingival sulci
foreign bodies impacted in, 76
Gingival suppuration, 12
Gingival surgery
packing materials following, 280
Gingival ulcerations
history of, 6
Gingival zenith
of lateral incisors, 274
Gingivectomy, 190, 272, 276f
esthetics of, 274
for hereditary gingival fibromatosis, 138
need for, 138
postsurgical pain from, 210
technique of
in soft tissue plastic surgery around
implants, 246
Gingivitis, 16, 4647, 66
desquamative. See Desquamative
gingivitis
human immunodeficiency virus
necrotizing ulcerative. See Necrotizing
ulcerative gingivitis
nonspecific chronic desquamative
of hormonal origin, 69
vs periodontal health, 4849
plaque-induced periimplant, 256
pregnancy, 2
treatment of, 76
Gingivoplasty
Gingivostomatitis
herpetic. See Herpetic gingivostomatitis
Glycolide, 192
Gold-alloy crowns, 40
Gold crowns, 40
Gold inlay, 40
Gold onlay, 40
Gore-Tex, 174
suturing material, 168
Grafting, 106, 276
materials, 162
on periosteal bed, 106
prior to orthodontic treatment, 112
three-quarter crown, 110
Granulation tissue
growth control of, 280
removal of, 182
Granulocytopenia, 240
Grinded bone augmentation (GBA), 230
Grinding
for cracked tooth syndrome, 70
habits, 124
history of, 6
313
Index
Grit-blasted surface, 254

Grooving
interproximal, 186
interproximal vertical, 188
interradicular vertical, 188
Group function
vs canine disclusion, 128129
working side contacts, 128f
Growth enhancer, 182
Growth factors, 192
GTA. See Guided tissue regeneration (GTR)
Guided bone augmentation, 260f
for implants, 242
for osseointegrated implants, 248249
with osseointegrated implants, 248
Guided tissue augmentation
Guided tissue regeneration (GTR), 180, 226
abutment, 100
application of, 192
Atrisorb membrane for
site selection for, 164165
Class II furcation, 88
Class III furcation, 88
vs connective tissue graft, 218219, 226
cost, 174
vs CTG, 218219
deep osseous defects, 84
deep two-walled infrabony crater, 90f
esthetics, 122, 178179, 262
European approach to, 160161
membrane selection, 168169
furcation, 80, 172173
goal of, 162
hopeless teeth, 74
for loose teeth, 130
materials for, 162, 261
membrane type, 178179
molar teeth, 144
vs mucogingival-osseous surgery,
158159
objectives of, 178
osseous dehiscences, 176177
vs osseous fill, 162163
recession, 108, 120
restoration reevaluation, 212
for root form dental implants, 248249
root proximity, 98
selection for, 160
surgical approach, 178179
and third-molar extraction, 292293
three-walled osseous defects, 196197
two-walled defects, 174175
for vertical osseous defects, 170171
Guidor, 177
Gumminess, 272
Gummy smile, 266, 272f
Habits, 4
Hand curets, 86
Handicaps
flossing, 96
314
Hand instrumentation, 86
Hand scalers, 86
Hand scaling/root planing
vs ultrasonic debridement, 8687
Hard toothbrush, 3, 8
Healing
APF, 180
Healing cuffs, 258
Health history, 4
Health questionnaire, 2
Healthy gingiva
color of, 16
Heart attack, 2, 240
Heart problems
prognosis, 72
Heart surgery, 2
Hemangioma, 140
Hematocrit, 4
Hematoma, 140
Hemidesmosomal attachment
of soft tissues to titanium, 256
Hemisection, 190
illustration of, 144f
vs root amputation, 144145
Hemiseptal defect, 36f
Hemiseptum
interdental septum, 198f
Hemoglobin, 4
Hemolytic malignant disease, 4
Hemophiliacs, 20
Hemophilus actinomycetemcomitans, 160
Hemorrhage
reduction of, 280
Hepatic disease, 4
Hepatitis, 2, 4
debilitating, 240
Hepatitis B vaccination, 4
Hereditary gingival fibromatosis, 59
surgery of, 138
Herpes simplex type I virus, 54
Herpes virus
cancrum oris, 143
Herpetic gingivostomatitis, 16, 24, 142
lidocaine for, 210
therapy of, 76
treatment of, 210
Herpetic lesions, 54
Herpetic ulcerations
High lip line
esthetic evaluation of, 266267
High restoration, 124
High-risk procedures
and informed consent, 278
HIV. See Human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV)
Hodgkins disease, 4
Holter monitor, 4
Home care
for RPD, 136
Homosexuals, 20, 24
Hopeless teeth, 7475, 168, 190
cracked tooth syndrome, 74
Horizontal bone loss, 90, 158
Horizontal defects, 190

Hormonal changes, 138
Hormone replacement therapy, 244
Hot gutta-percha, 22
Human allographic bone
human immunodeficiency virus, 104
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 4,
6, 16, 17, 24, 142
antibody assay for, 20
antibody test, 21
gingivitis, 64
human allographic bone, 104
loss of attachment, 6465
necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, 64
necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis, 64
periodontal diseases associated with
diagnosis and management of, 6667
periodontitis. See Necrotizing ulcerative
periodontitis
Hydroxyapatite, 192
Hydroxyapatite coatings, 254
Hydroxylapatite-coated titanium implant
surface, 258
Hygiene
for implants
customization of, 258
instruction for, 12
review of, 26
Hyperparathyroidism, 5, 32, 140
Hyperplasia, 76
prognosis, 72
Hyperplastic gingival response, 2
Hyperplastic periimplant tissues
debridement of, 258
Hypertension
prognosis, 72
surgery, 150
Hypoparathyroidism, 5
Ice, 210
reaction to, 22
Ideal forced smile, 272
Iliac crest, 192
Illness
influencing patient oral hygiene, 238
Images
printing of, 38
Immigrants, 2
Immune system
prognosis, 72
Immunocompromised HIV patients, 66
Immunoglobulin A
linear, 68, 69
Immunosuppression
NUG, 142
Immunosuppressive drugs
Impacted wisdom teeth
removal of
ideal time for, 284
Implant loading
impact on, 252
Index
Implant materials, 189

Implants, 148, 190
as abutments, 252253
adjacent teeth, 244
ailing. See Ailing implants
bone quality, 250
customized hygiene regimen for, 258
endosseous blade, 243
endosseous root form, 242
failed
etiology of, 256257
failing. See Failing implants
favorable conditions for, 252
history of, 6
keratinized tissue around, 246
lateral occlusal forces on, 244
masticatory mucosa around, 246
maxillary
success of, 244
medical qualification for, 240
multiple dental, 250
multiple single, 252253
need for gingival augmentation, 246
neutral conditions for, 252
osseointegrated, 240, 241
with added support, 241
guided bone augmentation for,
248249
overload of
prevention of, 250
for partially dentulous patients, 242243
patient selection for, 240241
placement of
decisions about, 252
psychologic qualification for, 240
root form
guided tissue regeneration for,
248249
surgical placement of, 188
root planing of, 258
shape of, 254
for single-tooth endentulous space,
244245
soft-tissue plastic surgery around,
246247
status of teeth retained, 240
subperiosteal, 242
surface modifications of, 254
threaded screw-type, 254
involvement, 154
unfavorable conditions for, 252
Implant sites
bone available at, 240
Implant-supported restorations
benefits of, 254
maintenance of, 254255
maintenance programs for, 254
Implant team, 256
Inadequate attached gingiva, 106, 119
and denudation, 228
recession
after orthodontic treatment, 112f
Incipient furcation involvement (Class I).

See Class I furcations
Incision and drainage
of periodontal abscesses, 76
Incisors
central
with inadequate attached gingiva,
42f
gingival lesions
excessive overbite, 116
interproximal surfaces of
recontouring of, 116
lateral
deep defect on
free gingival margin of, 274
gingival zenith of, 274
recession of, 42f
length of
increase, 276f
maxillary
diverging roots of, 116
interproximal contact of, 116
preoperative view, 158f
recession
Industrialized countries
NUG
incidence of, 142
Infants
primary acute herpetic gingivostomatitis
in, 54
Infectious disease, 2, 4, 86
Infectious mononucleosis, 54
Inflamed circumscribed gingival
enlargements (CGEs), 140
Inflammation, 4
assessment of, 238
clinical signs of, 48
prevention of, 210
visual signs of, 16
Inflammatory gingival enlargement, 138
chronic, 58
treatment of, 138
Influenza, 54
Informed consent, 262, 278279
documentation of, 104
recession prevention, 118
state standards for, 278
Infrabony crater, 36
Initial periodontal examination (IPE), 1213
Initial therapy
response to
surgery vs repetitive root planing, 84
Initial treatment planning
periodontal surgery discussion, 90
Inorganic alloplastic graft material, 162
INR, 66
INSIGHT, 38
Interdental septum
hemiseptum, 198f
Interdental space
width of, 178
Interleukin-1 genetic predisposition, 11
Internal beveled scalloped incision, 180,
180f
International normalized ratio (INR), 66
Interproximal brushes, 8
Interproximal grooving, 186
Interproximal membranes, 168
Interproximal necrosis, 142
Interproximal plaque
removal of, 9697
Interproximal vertical grooving, 188
Interradicular vertical grooving, 188
Intrabony bone loss, 162163
Intrabony defects, 190
Intraoral autogenous bone grafts, 192
Intraosseous defects
surgery of, 190
Intrasulcular incision, 168
Intravenous drug abuser
linear gingival erythema, 64f
NUP, 64f
Intravenous drug use, 24
Invisalign System
of tooth movement, 134
Iontophoresis
IPE, 1213
Irreducible sharp pain, 62
Irreversible pulpitis, 160
Irrigated drilling systems, 256
Irrigation devices, 8
Isobutyl cyanoacrylate, 232
Jackhammer, 124
Jaw pain
history of, 6
Jiggling trauma, 134
Juvenile periodontitis, 50, 76
localized, 50
Kaposis sarcoma, 140
Keratinized tissues
assessment of
recession, 224
osseous repair surgery on, 260
thickness of, 246
Kidney disease, 4
Kidney infections, 2
Knowledge
patient vs physician, 278
Kodak F speed film, 38
Kodak medical printing systems, 38
Kugelbergs Risk Index M3, 292
Laboratory technician, 256
Laboratory tests, 45
for HIV-positive patients, 66
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 4
Lactide polymers, 192
315
Index
Lamina dura, 32
Laser surgery
Lateral canals
pulpal pathology, 62
Lateral contacts, 45
Lateral incisors
deep defect on
free gingival margin of, 274
gingival zenith of, 274
recession of
recording of, 42f
Lateral interferences, 256
Laterally positioned flap (LPF), 224
Latex agglutination test, 160
Law of battery, 278
LDH, 4
Ledges
ramped, 186
Leukemia, 2, 4, 138
cancrum oris, 143
NUG, 142
Leukoplakia, 16
LGE. See Linear gingival erythema (LGE)
Lichen planus, 3, 68
Lidocaine, 210
Linear gingival erythema (LGE), 64
diagnosis and management of, 66
intravenous drug abuser, 64f
Linear immunoglobulin A, 68, 69
Linear incision
vs trolley incision, 204
Linear marginal erythema, 16
Lingual cortical plates, 200
Lingual cusp position
of maxillary molars, 135
Lingual loading forces, 252
Lingual version, 290
Lip line, 266, 267, 272, 273
Lips
subgingival residual furcal, 146
upper
one-third tooth coverage, 272f
positions of, 272
Liquid nutritional supplements
Listerine, 102
Litigation, 278279
Liver disease, 4
LOA. See Loss of attachment (LOA)
Local anesthesia
for abscess, 138
Localized aggressive periodontitis, 50
Localized gingival recession
root coverage with, 224225
Localized juvenile periodontitis, 50
Localized loose teeth, 130
Localized pain
cause of, 22
Localized periodontal pain, 2223
316

Localized periodontitis
Localized primary occlusal trauma, 124
Localized recession, 42
Localized root exposure, 223
Localized secondary occlusal trauma, 126
Locus minoris resistentiae, 114
Long epithelial attachment, 236
Loose restoration, 257
Loose teeth
selective grinding vs splinting, 130131
stabilization of
through dressings, 208
Loss of attachment (LOA), 12, 48, 64, 88
documentation of, 26
HIV, 6465
more than fifty percent
abutment, 100
LPF, 224
Lymphocytes, 4
Mad cow disease, 104
Magenta gingiva, 16
Magnesium oxide, 280
Magnification, 182
Maintenance
vs surgery, 150151
Malaise, 24
Malaligned teeth, 124
Malformed ridge, 230
Malignancy, 240
Malnutrition
NUG, 142
Malocclusions, 116
malposition, 134
Malposed tooth, 100
Mandible
incision for, 204
Mandibular arch
soft-tissue plastic surgery, 246
Mandibular exostoses, 188
Mandibular molars
advanced furcation, 144
amputation, 144
facial aspect of, 228
furcation, 152
probe of, 26
Mandibular tori, 188
Mandibular wisdom teeth, 284
Manual dexterity
GTR, 174
Manual toothbrush
vs powered toothbrush, 9495
Marginal bone osteoplasty, 188
Marginal gingiva
inflamed CGE, 140
Marginal tissue
and progressive gingival recession, 268
Mastication
pain on, 134
Masticatory
at implant site
evaluation of, 246

Masticatory mucosa
restoration of, 246
Material risk and objective standard, 278
Maxilla
anatomic considerations for, 204
incision for, 204
Maxillary anterior teeth
esthetics of, 264265
Maxillary arch
recession
soft-tissue plastic surgery, 246
Maxillary exostoses, 188
Maxillary first molar
distal surface of
overhanging margin, 40f
roots
deep fluting, 96f
Maxillary implants
success of, 244
Maxillary incisors
diverging roots of, 116
interproximal contact of
space above, 116
Maxillary lip line
Maxillary molars
lingual cusp position of, 135
probe of, 26
proximal furcations, 152
root amputation, 144
root proximity/periodontal problems,
9899
Maxillary teeth
Maxillary tori, 188
Maximal biting forces, 252
Maximum occlusion, 44
Measles
cancrum oris, 143
Mechanical clasping systems, 136
Mechanical toothbrushes, 96
Medical disability, 3
Medical evaluation
for implants, 240
Medical history, 23
updating, 3
Medical qualification
for implants, 240
Medications, 3, 5
prognosis, 72
treatment plan, 2
Medium toothbrush, 8
Membrane
design of
selection of, 168
GTR, 178179
Membrane alone, 162
Membrane-assisted hard-tissue grafts, 242
Membrane selection
European approach
to GTR, 168169
Index
Meningitis, 54
Mentally challenged patients
Meperidine, 211
Mesiodistal dimension
of edentulous space, 252
Metallic taste, 24
Metastatic disease of bone, 5
Methyl-2 pymolidone, 164
Metronidazole, 66
with amoxicillin, 102
with ciprofloxacin, 102
for NUG, 52, 102
for NUP, 102
MGJ, 114, 246
Microbial tests, 1011
Microgrooved surface, 254
Microorganisms
proliferation of, 288
Military
NUG, 142
Miller gingival recession classification, 224
Minimal loading forces
created by, 252
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), 182183
flap, 182
Minocycline microspheres, 102
Minor malignments, 124
MIS, 182183
Mixed bone loss, 90
Mixed dentition periodontitis, 76
Moat-shaped defects, 190
Mobility
assessment of
determining degrees of, 30f
differentiating degrees of, 3031
Moderate loading forces
created by, 252
Modified Abrams roll technique (MRT),
246
Modified papilla preservation technique
(MPPT), 178
Modified Widman flap, 84, 188
Molars
cracked, 98
cracked root, 144
distal furcation on, 152f, 226f
extraction of, 98
postsurgical problems, 6
first. See First molar
furcation, 2829, 9293
evaluation of, 152153
fused roots, 100f, 144
mandibular. See Mandibular molars
maxillary. See Maxillary molars
one-walled defect, 198f
perforated root, 144
recession
resection of
indications of, 144145
root proximity between, 98f

spread roots, 100f
Monocortical onlay grafts, 242
Monocytes, 4
Mononucleosis, 4
infectious, 54
Mouth
blow to, 22
Mouth rinses, 102
chlorhexidine, 66
Mouthwashes
anesthetic
palliative, 69
MPPT, 178
MRT, 246
Mucocutaneous disorders, 142
Mucogingival
vs mucogingival-osseous problems, 6061
Mucogingival anatomy, 12
Mucogingival junction (MGJ), 114, 246
Mucogingival needs
orthodontics
European view, 114115
Mucogingival-osseous problems, 8889
vs mucogingival, 6061
Mucogingival-osseous surgery, 152
vs guided tissue regeneration, 158159
one-walled defect, 164
restoration following, 212213
Mucogingival problem
and denudation, 228
guidelines for determining, 106
Mucogingival procedures, 206
for localized gingival recession, 224
Mucoperiosteal flaps
creation of, 168
Multiple adjacent gingival recessions
connective tissue graft for, 226227
Multiple dental implants, 250
Multiple sexual partners, 24
Multiple single implants, 252253
Multirooted tooth
furcations on
exploration of, 100
Myocardial infarction, 2, 240
Nabers periodontal probes, 192
Nabers-type probes, 160
Narrow defects, 202
Narrow dehiscences, 177
Natural teeth
impact on implants, 252
periodontal status of, 252
Necrotic pulp, 62, 144
Necrotizing periodontal disease (NPD),
142143
forms of, 142
treatment of, 210
Necrotizing stomatitis, 66, 142
Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG), 6,

16, 24, 5253, 142
characterization of, 52, 142
children, 142
clinical findings in, 66
differential diagnosis of, 20, 52, 54
incidence of, 142
pathogenesis of, 66
predisposing factors for, 52
sharp pain, 62
systemic manifestations of, 142
treatment of, 76
Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP),
6, 16, 20, 24, 142
intravenous drug abuser, 64f
pathogenesis of, 66
sharp pain, 62
Negligence, 278
Neonates
cancrum oris, 143
Neoplasms, 59, 138, 288
Neoplastic fibrotic gingival enlargement, 138
Nets
hauling, 124
Neutropenia
NUG, 142
New attachment procedures
New tissue
attachment of, 220
New World Health Organization
classification system, 4849
Nifedipine
Night grinding, 124, 132
history of, 6
Night guards, 258
history of, 6
paired mandibular, 132f
paired maxillary, 132f
vs selective grinding, 132133
with temporary splinting, 212
Nikolskys sign, 69
NMP (N-methyl-2 pymolidone), 164
Noma, 142143
Noncompliance, 26
Noninflamed circumscribed gingival
enlargements (CGEs)
color of, 140
Nonmobile abutments, 136
Nonresorbable ePTFE titanium membrane
GTR, 179
Nonresorbable materials, 261
Nonspecific chronic desquamative gingivitis
of hormonal origin, 69
of idiopathic origin, 69
317
Index
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAIDs), 210
Nonvital tooth, 148
with necrotic pulps, 160
Northern Europe
thin birchwood sticks, 9697
NPD, 142143, 210
NSAIDs, 210
NUG. See Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
(NUG)
NUP. See Necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis
(NUP)
Nurse assistant
and risk disclosure, 278
Nutritional habits
prognosis, 72
Occlusal adjustment, 124
for chronic periodontitis, 76
Occlusal analysis charting form, 44f
Occlusal findings
determining and recording, 4445
Occlusal function
edentulous area, 16
Occlusal grinding
prior to GTR, 160
Occlusal overload, 244
Occlusal splint, 244
Occlusal trauma, 32
adult orthodontics, 134135
primary vs secondary, 5657
signs of, 56
Occlusion, 12
Occupational bruxism, 124
Off-axis loading, 256
One-walled defect, 36f, 198199
first molar, 198f
mucogingival-osseous surgery, 164
osseous contouring, 186
Onlay augmentation
Open flap dbridement, 190, 264
architecture recontouring, 196
Operculum, 284, 288
Opioid, 211
Opportunistic infection, 11
Optimal occlusion
for reduced support RPD, 136
Oral B/Braun, 96
Oral contraceptives
hormonal changes during, 138
Oral examination
of periodontal attachment, 146
Oral hygiene
NUG, 142
patients efforts for
influence on, 238
prognosis, 72
unable to perform, 3
Oral hygiene instruction, 66
318

Oral surgical procedure
toleration of, 244
Orthodontic appliances
removal of, 135
Orthodontic approaches
periodontal problems, 116117
Orthodontic banding
Orthodontic mechanotherapy, 134
Orthodontic movement, 114
of abutments, 256
primary occlusal trauma, 124
of tooth extrusion, 116
Orthodontics
gingival augmentation, 112113
mucogingival needs
European view, 114115
predisposed first premolars, 112
young patient
overbite/overjet discrepancy, 112
Orthodontic treatment
history of, 6
Orthognathic surgery
evaluation for, 266
Osseointegrated implants, 240, 241
with added support, 241
guided bone augmentation for, 248249
Osseous augmentation procedures, 241
Osseous contouring
pocket-elimination surgery, 186
Osseous craters. See Two-walled defects
Osseous defects, 26
degranulating, 260
radiographic view of, 158f
Osseous dehiscences
anatomy of, 176
GTR, 176177
Osseous fill, 184
vs GTR, 162163
Osseous grooving, 188f
Osseous recontouring, 180, 186187
Osseous repair surgery
on keratinized tissues, 260
Osseous resection, 90, 162163
class II furcation, 192
pocket-elimination surgery with
shallow two-walled infrabony crater, 90f
Ostectomy, 90, 184
definition of, 186
Osteoplasty, 90, 184, 188189
definition of, 186, 188
pocket-elimination surgery with, 90
Overbite, 134
Overbite mismatching, 116
Overbite/overjet discrepancy
young patient
orthodontics, 112
Overdenture, 234
Overdenture abutments
predisposed tooth, 110

Overhanging margin, 4041
on distal surface
of maxillary first molar, 40f
Overjet, 134
Overjet mismatching, 116
Packing materials
following gingival surgery, 280
Pagets disease of bone, 5
Pain
generalized periodontal, 2425
history of, 6
irreducible sharp, 62
jaw
history of, 6
localized
cause of, 22
localized periodontal, 2223
on mastication, 134
nature of, 62
percussion to elicit, 22
periodontic
pharmacologic management of,
210211
postsurgical
duration of, 210
treatment of, 210
secondary to pericoronitis, 286
sharp
positive pulpal test, 62
sharp fleeting, 62
temporomandibular join, 134
Painkillers
Paired mandibular night guards, 132f
Paired maxillary night guards, 132f
Palatal design, 184185
Palatal flap
initial incision thinning of, 184f
Palatal tissue donor site
for connective tissue graft, 226
Palatal U-shaped flap, 246
Palliative mouthwashes, 69
Panographic radiographs
vs periapical radiographs, 32
Panorex films
Papillae
recreation of adjacent to maxillary
single-tooth implant, 246
Papilla preservation-designed flap, 178f
Papillar gingiva
inflamed CGE, 140
Papillary necrosis, 24
Papillomas, 140
Parafunctional clenching, 132
Parafunctional grinding, 132
Parafunctional incisal loading, 252
Parafunctional tooth wear, 250
Partially bony impacted wisdom tooth
Index
Partially dentulous patients

implant modalities for, 242243
Partially edentulous patient
implants
placement decisions for, 252
with reduced periodontal support, 137
Partial thromboplastin time, 5
Parulis, 140
Patient
discussion with
concerning periodontal surgery, 90
Patient-based standard, 278
Patient behavior
inconsistency of, 238
Patient comfort, 280
through dressings, 208
Patient compliance, 102
Patient determination, 278
Patient discomfort, 188
Patient education, 26, 278
Patient expectations
regarding implants, 240
Patient factors
retromolar defects, 204
Patient feedback
Patient health
for single-tooth implant, 244
Patient history
concerning implants, 240
Patient home care procedures
for implant-supported restorations, 254
Patient home care skills, 238
Patient interview
Patient medical status
prognosis, 72
Patient motivation, 238
Patient-performed plaque control, 258
Patient preferences
ultrasonic debridement vs hand
scaling/root planing, 86
Patient response, 238
Patient responsibility, 238
Patient selection
for implants, 240241
PDGF, 192
PDL
widened, 32
Peanut oil, 280
Pedicle grafts, 88
coronally positioned, 220221
using emdogain, 222
Pemphigoid, 3
Pemphigus, 3
Pemphigus vulgaris, 68, 69
Penicillin, 102
for NUG, 76
Peptostreptococcus micros, 10
Periapical films, 14
Periapical radiographs
vs panographic radiographs, 32
Periapical radiolucency
radiographic evaluation for, 22
Pericoronitis, 284285
pain secondary to, 286
Peridex, 102
long-term use of, 103
Periimplant disease
bacterial etiology of, 256
biomechanical etiology of, 256
etiology of, 256
Periimplant gingivitis
plaque-induced, 256
Periimplantitis, 254, 256257
initial therapy for, 258259
postoperative care of, 261
treatment of, 254
Periimplant osseous defects
horizontal, 260
Periimplant seal, 256
Periimplant tissues
mucogingival status of
assessment of, 260
reevaluation of, 258
Perio Aide, 8, 96
PerioChip, 102
Periodontal abscesses, 22
Periodontal attachment
assessment of, 146
Periodontal defects
risk for, 292
Periodontal disease, 134
genetic susceptibility to, 146
teeth
crowding of, 116
malpositioning of, 116
Periodontal Disease Susceptibility Test, 146
Periodontal dressings, 280281
introduction of, 280
Periodontal examination
Periodontal flap
Periodontal health, 4647
vs gingivitis and periodontitis, 4849
Periodontal history, 6
Periodontal ligament, 256
Periodontal ligament (PDL)
widened, 32
Periodontally compromised patient
potential abutment teeth, 100101
removable partial dentures, 136137
Periodontal patients
surgical approaches for, 9091
Periodontal pockets
foreign bodies impacted in, 76
reduction of, 190

tipped teeth with, 134
vs endodontic problems, 6263
orthodontic approaches, 116117
Periodontal status
evaluation of, 242243
Periodontal surgery
suturing following, 206207
Periodontal therapy
Periodontic pain
pharmacologic management of,
210211
Periodontist
referral to, 7879
Periodontist referral
by general practitioner, 8081
informed consent, 78
Periodontitis, 16, 5253
aggressive, 76
pain, 210
chronic, 4647, 50, 5253
pain, 210
treatment of, 76
generalized aggressive, 50
generalized juvenile, 50
HIV. See Necrotizing ulcerative
periodontitis
juvenile, 50, 76
localized
localized aggressive, 50
localized juvenile, 50
mixed dentition, 76
vs periodontal health, 4849
potential anchor teeth, 112
rapidly progressive, 50, 76
recurrent
common sites of, 28
reversed architecture, 186f
selective grinding, 128
Periodontium
thick, 174
Perio-endo syndrome, 62
PerioGard
long-term use of, 103
Periosteum elevator, 166
Peripheral CD4+ lymphocyte count, 66
Peripheral giant cell granuloma, 140
Peroxide, 66
Petrolatum, 280
Phenytoin sodium hyperplasia, 58f
Phosphorous storage plate system, 38
Physical disability, 3
Physically challenged patients
Physician-patient relationships, 278
Pigtail type explorer, 28, 92
319
Index
Pine oil, 280

Pink circumscribed gingival enlargements
(CGEs), 140
Pink silicone gingival shroud, 276
Pin perforation
Plaque
assessment of, 238
and patient behavior, 238
Plaque control, 102, 190, 282
chemical, 102
for chronic inflammatory gingival
enlargement, 138
demonstrating current practices, 8
furcations, 28
for gingival enlargements, 138
for gingivitis, 76
history of, 89
for implants, 242
during orthodontic treatment, 114
patient-performed, 258
poor
toothbrushing, 94
surgery vs repetitive root planing, 84, 150
Plaque index, 8, 12
for GTR, 160
Plaque-induced infection, 256
Plaque-induced periimplant gingivitis, 256
Plasma-sprayed titanium, 254
Plasma volume, 4
Plastic-coated proxibrushes, 258
Plastic instrumentation, 258
Platelet count, 5, 66
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), 192
Platelet-rich plasma, 192
Pneumonia, 54
Pocket depth
assessment of, 238
Pocket-elimination surgery
with osseous resection
with osteoplasty, 90
restoration reevaluation, 212
shallow one-walled defects, 90
Pocket-elimination therapy, 264
Pockets, 26, 88
bleeding in, 16
depth of, 22
elimination of, 180
foreign body in, 22
furcations, 28
pulpal alteration, 62
reduction of
facilitation of, 188
Polyglactin 910
membrane, 182
Polylactic acid, 192
Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes, 4
Polytetrafluoroethylene, 170, 174, 176,
177, 179, 192, 248249, 292
320
Pontic, 146
Popcorn, 22, 76
Porphyromonas, 160
Porphyromonas gingivalis, 10, 102
Positive pulpal test
sharp pain, 62
Posterior cusp relations, 135
Posterior interdigitation, 134
Posterior mandible
subperiosteal implant, 242
Posterior teeth
maximal biting forces, 252
Postmenopausal women
desquamative gingivitis in, 69
Postoperative bleeding, 210
Postoperative care
for periimplantitis surgery, 261
Postoperative infection
reduction of, 280
Postorthodontic clenching, 124
Postsurgically mobile teeth
splinting of, 280
Postsurgical pain
duration of, 210
treatment of, 210
Postsurgical reevaluation, 236237
timing of, 236
Post-treatment microbiologic analysis, 102,
146
Potassium nitrate
in toothpaste, 282
Potassium oxalate
Potential abutments
crown status of, 100
periodontally compromised, 100101
pulpal status of, 100
involvement, 154
Potential anchor teeth
periodontitis, 112
Povidone-iodine, 66
Powered toothbrush
vs manual toothbrush, 9495
Practice-building tool, 278
Praise, 238
Predisposed first premolars
orthodontics, 112
Predisposed tooth
overdenture abutment, 110
Pregnancy, 240
periodontal treatment in, 2
Pregnancy gingivitis, 2
Pregnancy tumor, 140
Premolars
first
with vertical crack, 70f
recession
Preoperative radiographs
of ailing implant, 260f
Pretreatment microbiologic analysis, 102

Prevotella, 160
Prevotella intermedia, 10, 142
Prichard fill technique
three-walled defects, 90
Primary acute herpetic gingivostomatitis,
5455
treatment of, 54
Primary occlusal trauma, 124125
Probes
curved (Nabers) periodontal, 192
fiberoptic, 182
Nabers-type, 160
Probing, 2627, 46, 200
bleeding upon, 16, 150
in dehiscence, 214
in fenestration, 214
recording of, 26
Probing attachment levels, 272, 274
Probing attachment loss, 160
deep vertical defect, 170
Probing depth measurements, 12
Prognosis
development of, 7273
Progressive gingival recession, 268
Prophylactic free-standing gingival grafts,
118
Prophylactic gingival grafting, 118
Prophylaxis, 82f
cost of, 82
definition of, 82
frequency of, 6
for gingivitis, 76
vs root planing, 8283
Prosthesis
after root resection, 146
Prosthetic tooth materials
wear properties of, 136
Prothrombin time, 5
Provisional splinting, 212
Proximate cause, 278
Pruritic vesiculobullous skin lesions, 69
Pseudomembrane, 21
Pseudomembranous colitis, 102
Pseudopockets, 27
Psychological comfort, 280
Psychologic aspects
GTR, 174
Psychologic qualification
for implants, 240
Puberty
Pulpal inflammation
irreversible, 282
Pulpitis, 62
Punishment, 238
Pure mucogingival problem
orthodontics, 112
Index
Pure mucogingival problems, 8889

Pure mucogingival surgery
dressing following, 232233
timing of, 234
Pyogenic granuloma, 140
Questionnaires, 6
Radiation therapy, 2
Radicular fracture, 62
Radiographic evaluation, 3233, 236
interpretation restrictions, 32
of periimplantitis, 256
root form, 100
Radiographic examination
Radiographs
bite-wing, 14
position of, 32
digital, 3839
full-mouth
for GTR, 160
interpreting bone loss on, 3435
panographic
periapical
preoperative
Radiolucency, 288
Radiopacity, 288
Rapidly progressive periodontitis, 50, 76
Rearmost, uppermost, and midmost (RUM)
position, 44
Reattachment
Recall patient, 6
demonstrating current practices, 8
Recall root planing, 82
Recall visits, 14
behavioral approach to, 238239
fixed-interval, 238
for RPD, 136
timing of, 238
Recession
after periodontal disease treatment,
224225
buccolingual thickness
orthodontic movement, 114
canine
after crown placement, 110f
central incisor
with inadequate attached gingiva, 42f
connective tissue graft, 108
etiology of, 42
inadequate attached gingiva
after orthodontic treatment, 112f

with inadequate attached gingiva
root exposure, 42f
on lateral incisor
recording of, 42f
prevention of, 118119
root coverage, 120121
sequential development of, 42
treatment of, 120121
Recreational bruxism, 124
Recreational drugs, 124
Recreational drug users, 20
Recurrent periodontitis
common sites of, 28
Red circumscribed gingival enlargements
(CGEs), 140
Red gingiva, 16
Red halo, 54f
Reduced support removable partial dentures
optimal occlusion for, 136
Reevaluation, 12
Referral
to periodontist, 7879
Refractory periodontal problems, 242
Regenerative procedures, 160, 260, 264
Regenerative surgery
Reinforcement, 238
Removable partial dentures (RPD), 136,
137, 250
distal extension, 137
periodontally compromised patient,
136137
reduced support
optimal occlusion for, 136
splinting, 136
tooth-supported, 137
Removable prostheses
history of, 6
Renal disease, 4
Repetitive root planing
vs surgery, 8485
Repetitive sweating, 24
Resected molar
abutment
fixed prosthesis, 146147
prognosis, 146
Resected molar failure
root fracture, 146
Residual pocket depths, 194
Residual roots
health factors, 146
length of, 146
mobility of, 146
prognosis of, 146
Resin, 280
Resorbable barrier membrane
GTR, 179
Resorbable hydroxyapatite, 261
Resorbable materials, 261
Resorbable membrane, 174, 177
periapical
preoperative
spacemaking defect, 174f
Restorations
anteroposterior location of, 252
design of
natural tooth impact on, 252
faulty
following mucogingival-osseous surgery,
212213
following pure mucogingival surgery,
234235
timing of, 234
following regenerative surgery, 212213
functional contours of, 252
history of, 6
preparation for, 234
Restorative dentistry
insufficient tooth crown height, 116
Restorative resins
Restoring dentist, 256
Rest-proximal plate I (RPI)
bar type of removable partial denture,
106, 234
partial clasp, 118
Retrograde pathways, 256
Retromolar defects, 204205
initial therapy for, 204
treatment planning for, 204
Reversed architecture, 186, 186f
Rewards, 238
Rheumatic heart disease, 2
Ridge augmentation, 88, 230231, 262
Ridge expansion, 242
Ridge inadequacy, 262
Ridge resorption
after tooth extraction, 262
Ridgeplasty, 206, 208
Root
close together, 96
cracked, 100
debridement of, 182, 264
deep fluting
maxillary first molar, 96f
diverging
of maxillary incisors, 116
exposure of, 3, 4243
esthetics of, 262
records of, 108
fused, 152
at apices, 148f
molar teeth, 100f
hypersensitivity of, 282
large or flared, 100
morphology of, 250, 252
occlusal loads, 32
resection of, 144
sequencing endodontics, 148149
residual. See Residual roots
321
Index
sensitivity of, 268

small or cone-shaped
with poor abutments, 100
transillumination, 62
Root amputation, 98
vs hemisection, 144145
illustration of, 144f
Root angulation
improvement of, 245
Root canal, 148
Root conditioning
coronally positioned flap technique
with, 220
Root coverage, 122, 234
flap design for
with coronally positioned pedicle
graft, 220f
free gingival graft, 216
with localized gingival recession,
224225
recession, 120121
Root-cover grafting, 268
Root form
assessment of, 100
Root form dental implants
guided tissue regeneration for, 248249
surgical placement of, 188
Root fracture
potential for, 250
resected molar failure, 146
Root planing, 82f, 220, 262
definition of, 82
for gingivitis, 76
hopeless teeth, 74
of implant surfaces, 258
incipient furcation involvement, 152
for NUG, 52
vs prophylaxis, 8283
recall, 82
repetitive
vs surgery, 8485
subgingival
vs ultrasonic dbridement, 8687
Root proximity
between second and third molars, 98f
Root scaling, 82f
for NUG, 52
Rose oil, 280
Rotary instruments, 260
Rotating burs, 188f
RPD. See Removable partial dentures (RPD)
RPI, 106, 234
partial clasp, 118
RUM position, 44
Salivation
night guards, 132
322
Scarlet fever, 4
Scolding, 238
Scrub stroke, 8
Secondary occlusal trauma, 126127
Seizures, 2
Selective grinding, 124
vs night guard, 132133
periodontitis, 128
vs splinting, 130131
Selenomonas, 10
Self-mutilating habits, 3
Sequencing endodontics
root resection, 148149
Serum calcium, 5
Serum enzymes, 4
Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, 4
Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, 4
Serum phosphorus, 5
Sesame seeds, 22, 76
Severe crowding, 124
Sexually promiscuous people, 20
Sexual partners
multiple, 24
Shallow defect
description of, 170
Shallow intrabony defects
treatment of, 192
Shallow one-walled defects
pocket-elimination surgery, 90
Shallow three-walled defects, 202
Shallow two-walled infrabony crater
osseous resection, 90f
Shallow vestibule, 222, 224
Sharp fleeting pain, 62
Sharp pain
positive pulpal test, 62
Shoe-shining motion, 8
Shoulder of occlusion, 135
Simplified papilla preservation technique
(SPPT), 178
Simulated shape design, 270
Single edentulous space, 250251
Single-surgery approach, 228
Single-tooth endentulous space
implant for, 244245
Single-tooth implant loading
evaluation of, 250
Single-wide membranes, 168
Sinus
elevation of, 242
Sinus proximity
in wisdom tooth removal, 286
Slow forced eruption, 276
Smile
after frenectomy, 272f
evaluation of, 264
gingival exposure in, 264
gummy, 266, 272f
ideal forced, 272
shape design of, 270
Smile design
esthetic
component parts of, 271f
esthetic aspects of, 270271
periodontal aspects of, 270271

restorative aspects of, 270271
Smoking, 3, 66, 240, 244
GTR, 174
microbial tests, 11
NUG, 142
prognosis, 72
residual root, 146
Smoothing, 260
Socioeconomic status, 66
Sodium fluoride solution
Soft tissue
hemidesmosomal attachment of
titanium to, 256
Soft-tissue-bulk reduction, 184
Soft-tissue curettage
Soft-tissue donor sites
assessment of
Soft-tissue grafting, 244
free-standing
recession, 224
interpositioning approach to, 220
postsurgical pain from, 210
stabilization of, 280
Soft-tissue impact third molar
Soft-tissue plastic surgery
Soft-to-firm circumscribed gingival
enlargements (CGEs), 140
Sonicare, 96, 97
Sounding, 202
in dehiscence, 214
in fenestration, 214
Spacemaking defect
resorbable membrane, 174f
Teflon membrane, 174f
Spiral crack, 22
Spirochetes, 10
Splinting
with fixed bridge, 236
postsurgically mobile teeth, 280
prior to GTR, 160
provisional, 212
RPD, 136
vs selective grinding, 130131
temporary, 212
Splints, 258
composite, 212
occlusal, 244
involvement, 154
Split interdental papillae, 2021
SPPT, 178
Spread roots
molar teeth, 100f
Squamous cell carcinoma, 288
Index
Stabilized recession, 42
Stain, 103
State standards
for informed consent, 278
Stents, 210
Steroids, 210
for desquamative gingivitis, 68, 69, 76
Stevens-Johnson syndrome, 69
Stimudents, 9697
Stomahesive bandage, 232, 280
Stone casts, 270
Streptococcus, 10, 52, 66, 257
Stress, 54, 66
influencing patient oral hygiene, 238
NUG, 142
prognosis, 72
Stress-releasing clasp, 136f
Strontium chloride
in toothpaste, 282
Students
NUG, 142
Study models, 256
Subacute bacterial endocarditis, 4
Subgingival caries
Subgingival irrigation, 102
Subgingival residual furcal lips, 146
Subgingival root planing
Subperiosteal implants, 242
Sub-Saharan Africa
cancrum oris, 143
Success rates
prediction of, 238
Sucular soft-tissue brushing, 118
Sulcus
depth of, 250
foreign body in, 22
probe in, 106f
Sulfa drugs, 69
Superficial impaction
apically positioned flap, 114
Super Floss, 96
Superfloss, 258
Suprabony pockets
reduction of, 190
Supragingival irrigation, 102
Supragingival restoration
timing of, 234
Surgeon, 256
and risk disclosure, 278
Surgery
contraindication for, 150
dressing following, 208209
fear, 104
vs maintenance, 150151
vs repetitive root planing, 8485
Surgical absorbable hemostat, 280
Surgical dressings, 210
Surgical site
protection of, 210
Surgical telescopes, 182
Surgical therapy
completion of, 236237

Surgicel, 232, 280
Sutures
continuous, 206f
single-sling, 206f
Suturing
following periodontal surgery, 206207
Symptomatic problems, 76
Symptomatic soft-tissue impaction
cause of, 284285
Synthetic bone fill
Synthetic bone grafting materials, 170
Synthetic bone substitutes, 192
Systemic health status
assessment of, 11
Tactile stimuli, 282
Tannic acid
hemostatic effects of, 280
Taste
altered, 103
metallic, 24
unusual, 24
Taxi driving, 124
T-cell lymphocyte assay, 20
T cells, 4
Teeth
abrasion, 96
crack in, 22
crowding of
periodontal disease, 116
extraction
cortical plate fracture during, 230
ridge resorption after, 262
extraction of, 22, 62, 92, 98, 282
periodontal reasons to, 156157
extrusion
orthodontic movement of, 116
fracture of, 62
length
alterations of, 276
length of
increase, 276f
length-to-width ratio, 276f
great than 1.8 to 1, 276
under 1 to 1, 276
loss of, 230
malposition, 134
malpositioning of
periodontal disease, 116
missing, 6
mobility, 12
increased, 134
Invisalign System of, 134
mobility of, 250, 252
overloaded, 124
periodontal status of
for implants, 242
proportions
replacement of, 136
RPD, 137
shape of, 270

too narrow, 276
too wide, 276
waxing up, 270
Teflon membrane, 158f, 170
spacemaking defect, 174f
Temperature, 24
Temporary splinting, 212
Temporomandibular joint pain, 134
Tetracycline
for aggressive periodontitis, 76
for periodontitis, 50
Tetracycline fibers, 102
Tetracycline hydrochloride, 102
TGF-, 192
Thermal stimuli, 282
Thin birchwood sticks, 9697
Thin soft-tissue ridge, 246
Thin ultrasonic tip, 98
Third-molar extraction
and guided tissue regeneration, 292293
Threaded screw-type implants, 254
Three-quarter crowns
grafting, 110
Three-walled defects, 88
GTR, 202f
GTR membrane, 168, 171
hopeless teeth, 74
mesial to premolar, 202f
Prichard fill technique, 90
wraparound membrane, 170f
Three-walled osseous defects
GTR, 196197
Through-and-through furcation
involvement (Class III). See Class III
furcations
Time
of radiographs, 34
Tipped teeth
with periodontal pocketing, 134
Titanium
hemidesmosomal attachment of soft
tissues to, 256
Titanium abutments, 258
Titanium-reinforced membrane, 168, 174,
177
Tobacco use. See Smoking
Tomograms
for implants, 244
Tomographic film
for implants, 240
Toothbrush, 258
electric, 8, 258
hard, 3, 8
manual
vs powered toothbrush, 9495
medium, 8
powered
vs manual toothbrush, 9495
Toothbrushing, 8
traumatic, 224
323
Index
with vestibular arch wire, 112

vigorous, 3
Toothpaste
desensitizing, 282
total, 102
Toothpicks, 8
Tooth-supported removable partial
dentures, 137
Total toothpaste, 102
Trabeculation, 32
Tractor
riding, 124
Traditional pathways, 256
Tramadol, 210
side effects of, 211
Transforming growth factor- (TGF-), 192
Transillumination
with fiberoptic light, 22
root, 62
Transmissible hepatitis, 240
Transverse relations, 134
Trapdoor procedure, 206
324
Trapezoidal flap, 224

Trauma
cause of, 134
gingival color, 16
Traumatic surgical techniques, 210
Traumatic toothbrushing, 224
Treatment
sequence of, 7677
Treatment planning
extraneous factors affecting, 104
Treatment sequence
age
orthodontics, 112
Trench mouth. See Necrotizing ulcerative
gingivitis
Triangular incision, 204
Triclosan, 102
Trifluor isopropyl cyanoacrylate, 232
Trigger discrepancies, 132
Trigger tooth
disharmony, 132
selective grinding of, 124
Trolley incision, 204
vs linear incision, 204
Tuberculosis, 2, 4
Tunnel approach
for multiple adjacent gingival recessions,
226
Tunnel receptor site
preparation of
for multiple adjacent gingival
recessions, 226
Two-dimensional film, 34
Two-surgery approach, 228
Two-walled defects, 88, 200f
common types of, 200
GTR, 174175
hopeless teeth, 74
local conditions, 174
pocket-elimination surgery

Critical Decisions in Periodontology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Critical Decisions in Periodontology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Critical Decisions in Periodontology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CRITICAL DECISIONS

WALTER B. HALL, BA, DDS, MSD

with 250 illustrations

SALES AND DISTRIBUTION

Australia, New Zealand

Mexico and Central America

U.K., Europe, Scandinavia, Middle

To my wife, Frencella, and my sons, Scott and Gregory,

Donald F. Adams, DDS, MS

Francesco Cairo, DDS

Edward P. Allen, DDS, PhD

Paulo M. Camargo, DDS, MS

Tamer Alpagot, DDS, PhD

Jordi Cambra, MD, DDS, ME

Tiziano Baccetti, DDS

Miguel Carasol, MD, DDS

Roberto Barone, DDS

Antonio Bascones, MD, DDS, PhD

Carrie Berkovich, DDS, MS

Mithridade Davarpanah, MD, DMD

Burton E. Becker, DDS

Daniel Etienne, DCD, MS

William Becker, DDS, MSD

Lavin Flores-de-Jacoby, DDS

Brian J. Kenyon, BA, DMD

Craig Gainza, DDS, MSD

Perry R. Klokkevold, DDS, MS

James Garibaldi, DDS, MA

John Y. Kwan, DDS

Timothy F. Geraci, DDS, MSD

Alan S. Leider, DDS, MA

Walter B. Hall, DDS, MSD

Casimir Leknius, DDS, MBA

Lisa A. Harpenau, DDS, MS, MBA

Vojislav Lekovic, DDS, PhD

Stephen K. Harrel, DDS

Joseph Levy, BA, MS, PhD

Luther H. Hutchens Jr, DDS, MSD

Michael G. Newman, BA, DDS

Larry G. Loos, DDS

Giovan Paolo Pini-Prato, MD, DDS

William P. Lundergan, DDS, MA

Mauricio Ronderos, DDS, MS, MPH

Benjamin J. Mandel, DDS

Roberto Rotundo, DDS

Alex R. McDonald, DDS, PhD

Randal W. Rowland, DMD, MS

Reiner Mengel, DDS

Richard S. Rudin, DDS

Scott W. Milliken, DDS, MS

Mariano Sanz, MD, DDS

Kathy I. Mueller, MS, DMD

Thomas Schiff, MD, DDS

Leonardo Muzzi, DDS

Alberto Sicillia, MD, DDS

E. Robert Stultz Jr, DMD, MS

Vicki Vlaskalic, BDS, MDSc

Charles F. Sumner III, DDS, JD

Galen W. Wagnild, DDS

Maurizio Tonetti, DDS, MS