LAUSR

AIM To comparatively evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the single flap approach (SFA) with and without enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in the treatment of supraosseous defects (SDs) associated with deep pockets. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty patients, each contributing one SD associated with a deep (≥ 6 mm) pocket and treated with buccal SFA either alone (SFA group; n = 10) or in combination with EMD (SFA+EMD group; n =10), were retrospectively selected. Clinical parameters (probing depth, PD; clinical attachment level, CAL; gingival recession, REC) had been assessed at pre-surgery and 12 months post-surgery. RESULTS Complete wound closure was observed in 70% and 80% of defects treated with SFA and SFA+EMD, respectively. Treatments resulted in a significant PD reduction of 3.1±1.0 mm (p=0.005). In SFA+EMD group, 100% of closed pockets was obtained, while 90% of closed pockets was observed in SFA group. Both treatments resulted in a significant CAL gain of 2.1±0.9 mm and 1.9±1.7 mm in SFA and SFA+EMD group, respectively (p= 0.465). In both groups, REC significantly increased 1.0±1.1 mm in SFA group and 1.1±1.1 mm in SFA+EMD group (p= 0.722). CONCLUSIONS Within their limits, the findings of present study suggest that SFA may represent a valuable option for the surgical treatment of SDs associated with deep pockets. EMD did not result in a significant clinical benefit to the procedure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE SFA may represent a valuable option in obtaining pocket closure when treating SDs associated with deep residual pockets.