Preliminary Report on Changes after Soft-tissue Management: 1-year Results

Objectives: In dental impressions, the complete and correct reproduction of the preparation margin is most important. Various procedures and medicaments can be used for soft-tissue management. In a clinical trial, the gingival recession after using two different procedures was assessed by a three-dimensional analysis of the resulting gypsum models.

Methods: The study design implies a cross-over after 6 months (change of quadrant, artificial gingivitis) at a total duration of 12.5 months. Saw-cut models of 20 probands were made after applying either the double-chord-technique (roeko Retracto, impregnated, size 1&2, Coltène/Whaledent, Germany) or an aluminum-chloride containing paste (Expasyl, PierreRolland, France) for soft-tissue management on the palatal aspect of the upper premolars. Teeth in the contralateral quadrant served as control. Impressions were made before each intervention (reference), after three and six months (follow-up). Probands received professional tooth cleaning before baseline impression, before refraining from tooth brushing for artificial gingivitis and immediately after the second intervention. After digitizing (digiSCAN, AmannGirrbach, Germany), follow-up data was aligned to baseline data for analysis (geomagic studio and qualify 9.0, geomagic Inc., USA). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS Statistics 17.0 (SPSS Inc., USA).

Results:

Variable Measurement location Mean Standard error 95%-Confidence interval Significance Intervention Mesial papilla  0.009  0.036 -0.063─0.080 0.586   Distal papilla  0.013  0.036 -0.058─0.084 0.394   Mid-marginal gingiva  0.014  0.029 -0.044─0.071 0.237 No intervention Mesial papilla  0.037  0.037 -0.035─0.109 0.586   Distal papilla -0.031  0.036 -0.102─0.040 0.394   Mid-marginal gingiva -0.035  0.029 -0.093─0.022 0.237 Follow-up, 3-months Mesial papilla  0.061  0.032 -0.003─0.125 0.095   Distal papilla  0.010  0.031 -0.052─0.071 0.360   Mid-marginal gingiva -0.024  0.013 -0.050─0.002 0.728 Follow-up, 6-months Mesial papilla -0.024  0.039 -0.202─0.053 0.095   Distal papilla -0.037  0.040 -0.115─0.042 0.360   Mid-marginal gingiva -0.010  0.038 -0.085─0.066 0.728

Conclusion:

Careful use of two different procedures for soft-tissue management did not cause permanent gingival recession. A mild artificial gingivitis did not have a negative influence.

Sponsoring: 3M ESPE