IJCRR

IJCRR - 4(12), June, 2012

Pages: 191-197

Date of Publication: 22-Jun-2012

SURGICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF INTERDENTAL PAPILLA USING AN INTERPOSED SUBEPITHELIAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE GRAFT: A CASE REPORT

Author: R.Vijayalakshmi, Plato Palanthingal

Category: Healthcare

Abstract:Periodontal plastic surgery enables enhanced esthetics in the anterior maxillary region. Reconstruction of
the interdental papilla is one of the most challenging and least predictable of treatments. Several surgical
and nonsurgical procedures to rebuild lost papillae have been presented; however, good results have been
elusive. A case report is presented here to demonstrate a technique by which a collapsed interdental papilla can be surgically reconstructed by a novel surgical procedure based on an advanced papillary flap combined with a connective tissue graft intended to augment the soft tissue in the interdental area.

Keywords: Papilla reconstruction, black triangle, connective tissue graft

Full Text:

INTRODUCTION
Periodontal plastic surgery enables enhanced esthetics in the anterior maxillary region where minor surgical procedures can improve gingival contour. One goal of periodontal plastic surgery is the reconstruction of the interdental papilla that has been lost1. Several surgical and nonsurgical approaches have been suggested to solve this esthetical problem. Orthodontic approximation can be combined with apical positioning of the contact point through stripping2 and in certain cases, change of the tooth contact area can also be achieved with appropriate restorative techniques. Periodic curettage stimulates the regrowth of interdental papilla3. Several surgical procedures that rebuild lost papilla have also been presented. Principles of papilla preservation combined with roll techniques have been reported4&5. A pedicle graft using a buccal semilunar incision with coronal displacement of the gingivopapillary unit and subepithelial connective tissue graft has also been applied6. Surgical reconstruction of interdental papilla with buccal and palatal thickness flap and a connective tissue graft has also been presented7. Insufficient blood supply is the major limiting factor in all the surgical papilla reconstructive and regeneration techniques. The recipient site of the interdental space borders the nonvascularized tooth surfaces, providing small surface area for grafting. Therefore techniques using pedicle or advanced flaps clearly shows better results than those with free grafts8. This case report presents a case in which the semilunar coronally repositioned papilla with connective tissue graft6 was used to surgically reconstruct lost papilla.

CASE REPORT
Case description
A 22 year old male presented with chief c/o spacing in his upper front tooth region. The patient was not medically compromised. Intraoral examination revealed, class I papilla loss [Fig 1], in 11,21 region according to Nordland and Tarnow classification9 . The treatment plan was to complete phase I therapy and after reevaluation, to proceed with surgical therapy. Informed consent was obtained from the patient. Ethical committee clearance was obtained for the same. Phase I therapy was completed for the patient. The site was re-evaluated after a period of 4 weeks. It was decided to proceed with the surgical phase. After administration of local anaesthesia, 1.8 ml of 2% xylocaine with adrenaline by infiltration, a semilunar incision is made between the mesial line angle of the teeth[11,21] in the alveolar mucosa with no.15 blade and a pouch-like preparation is performed into the interdental area [Fig 2]. Intrasulcular incisions are made with no.15 blade around the mesial and distal half of 11 and 21, to free the flap from the root surfaces and allow coronal displacement of the gingivalpapillary unit. The gingival-papillary unit was relieved using an Orban knife [Fig 3 and 4]. The soft tissue was completely released from the root and bone, and the whole flap became mobile, allowing for the coronal displacement of the papillary unit. A buccal or palatal void could be seen between the soft tissue and the bone. To maintain the whole unit coronally, the dead space was filled with connective tissue graft. A connective tissue graft [Fig 5], procured from the palate by trap door approach was placed into the pouch [Fig 6] to support the coronally positioned interdental tissue. Suturing of the semilunar incision was initiated with 4-0 black silk suture and primary closure was obtained [Fig 7]. Later the palatal donor site was sutured [Fig 8]. No periodontal dressing was used nor was antibiotic therapy recommended. The post operative care consisted of 0.12% chlorhexidine rinses 3 times a day for 4 weeks, with no mechanical cleansing of the interproximal area.

Follow-Up
Suture removal was done on the 10th postoperative day. Healing was uneventful. Six months after the procedure, the interproximal space was still completely filled and the height and volume of the reconstructed papilla had been maintained [Fig 9].

DISCUSSION
There may be several reasons for loss of papilla height and the establishment of black triangles between teeth. The most common reason in the adult individual is loss of periodontal support due to plaque-associated lesions. However, abnormal tooth shape, improper contours of prosthetic restorations and traumatic oral hygiene procedures may also negatively influence the outline of the interdental soft tissues10. The case presented here comes under class I of Nordland and Tarnow (1998) classification9. Since the distance between bone crest and contact point was ≤5mm and papilla height was less than 4mm, surgical intervention was proposed to increase the volume of the papilla11. Harvesting of the graft was performed just before the surgical detachment of the papilla to prevent the displacement of a blood clot between the bone and grafted connective tissue. Blood clots, even small ones might compromise immediate blood supply to the graft and therefore induce partial necrosis of the transplanted tissue12. The most predictable soft tissue grafting is achieved by the use of pedicle grafts because the blood supply is derived directly from the base of the mobilized flap. The pedicle flap along with submerged grafted tissue and the primary closure of the recipient site provides an environment of maximum blood supply to the grafted tissues. These factors, as well as the meticulous and careful management of the soft tissues, are important surgical considerations for a predictable and successful result13. Since the graft receives nourishment from all directions, flow of plasma and in growth of capillaries from surrounding tissues can be achieved. Depending on the extent of success following the procedure, it can be repeated after several months of healing. The present procedure can be combined with reshaping of the proximal contour of adjacent teeth to enhance results.

CONCLUSION
This case report has shown that the surgical technique using an interposed subepithelial connective tissue graft can regenerate a lost interdental papilla. The reconstructed papilla remained stable and without any signs of clinical inflammation 6 months after the surgery. Clinical studies using large sample sizes are necessary to determine the success rate and probability of this surgical technique. We hope that this case-report would become part of a meta-analysis in the future to help plan an evidence-based treatment.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors acknowledge the immense help received from the scholars whose articles are cited and included in references of this manuscript. The authors are also grateful to authors / editors / publishers of all those articles, journals and books from where the literature for this article has been reviewed and discussed.

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