Periapical and periodontal healing after osseous grafting and guided tissue regeneration treatment of apicomarginal defects in periradicular surgery: results after 12 months.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the periapical and periodontal healing of apicomarginal defects 12 months after periradicular surgery and guided tissue regeneration in a series of consecutively treated patients. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with apicomarginal defects who were referred for periradicular surgery were included. Apicomarginal defects were grafted with Bio-Oss bone mineral and covered with a Bio-Gide membrane. Periodontal probing depths (PPDs) and relative attachment levels were measured preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively with a manual force-controlled probe. Periapical healing was assessed clinically and radiographically. RESULTS: Of the 23 defects in 22 patients for whom follow-up data were available, 19 were considered clinically and radiographically successful, 2 were doubtful, and 2 were failures. Overall, the baseline median PPD decreased from 9.0 mm to 3.0 mm, corresponding to a median relative attachment level gain of 2.8 mm. In the case of periodontic-endodontic lesions, the median baseline PPD decreased from 9.8 mm to 4.0 mm, corresponding to a median relative attachment level gain of 4.2 mm. Defects that involved a proximal root surface had a significantly higher residual PPD than did defects not involving a proximal root surface. CONCLUSIONS: Guided tissue regeneration treatment of apicomarginal defects yields good results in terms of periapical and periodontal healing after 12 months and should be considered as an adjunct to periradicular surgery in such cases.

Apicomarginal defects in periradicular surgery: classification and diagnostic aspects.

The prognosis of periradicular surgery is affected by the amount and location of bone loss. Apicomarginal defects are localized bony defects encompassing the total root length, and periradicular surgery on these teeth is associated with a lower success rate. This paper reviews the etiology, pathogenesis, and morphology of apicomarginal defects as encountered in periradicular surgery on the basis of a series of 24 consecutively treated patients. Periodontal data were recorded before surgery in all patients, and apicomarginal defects were diagnosed after flap reflection or, if applicable, apicoectomy. On the basis of the findings in these cases and on theoretic considerations, a classification system for apicomarginal defects with potential therapeutic and prognostic implications is presented and several criteria for differential diagnosis are discussed.