Early postoperative healing following guided tissue regeneration in aggressive periodontitis patients

Background. In order to regenerate periodontal tissues, necessary conditions for this process must be created during surgery, primarily by allowing uninfected adhesion of the clot to the root surface, and then its stable position in the defect. Objectives. The aim of this secondary analysis was to evaluate early postoperative healing of papillary incisions and its correlations with patient-, site-and technique-related factors following guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in treatment of intrabony defects in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP). Material and methods. The analysis included the data from 25 patients and 59 treatment sites. Surgical treatment consisted of using grafts together with collagen membranes. Post-operative healing was assessed 1 week and 2 weeks after GTR using the Early Wound-Healing Index (EHI). Results. Early Wound-Healing Index values ranged from 1 (complete flap closure and primary healing) to 4 (incomplete flap closure, partial tissue necrosis, secondary healing). After 1 week, primary healing (EHI = 3) was observed in 55 sites, and secondary healing (EHI = 4) in 4 sites. After 2 weeks, the values were 45 and 14, respectively. No correlations between EHI and patient-related factors were found. However, 1-rooted teeth, sites with thin phenotype and the presence of gingival recessions were associated with impaired healing (higher EHI recordings and secondary healing), as was analyzed in a multiple regression model. Conclusions. Site-related factors may impinge on the early postoperative healing of papillary incisions succeeding GTR in AgP patients.