Periodontal regeneration by minimally invasive procedures and its influence on pulp status.

Dental pulp and periodontium have different communication routes including, e.g., apical foramen, accessory canals and dentin tubules. Scaling, planing and root surface treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-based conditioner are used in regenerative periodontal procedures. Such treatment may generate pathological communication between the two structures due to interruption of the vascular pedicle or migration of bacteria and/or inflammatory byproducts from deep periodontal pockets, which may generate pulp pathology.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of minimally invasive periodontal regenerative surgery on pulp vitality status in single-rooted and multi-rooted teeth associated to infraosseous defects extending to the middle and apical thirds.

Materials and method: This was a retrospective study on 30 teeth from 14 patients who received care between August 2018 and August 2019 at the postgraduate Department of Specialization in Periodontics of the Buenos Aires University School ofDentistry (FOUBA). Clinical and radiographic endodontic diagnosis was performed 6 months after the minimally invasive regenerative periodontal treatment.

Results: Only two out of the 30 teeth presented changes in pulp status following regenerative periodontal procedure: irreversible pulpitis at 30 days and pulp necrosis at 180 days post-treatment. The rate for risk of change in pulp vitality status was 6.7%. Teeth with grade I and II furcation lesions (n=9) presented no change in pulp status.

Conclusions: Regenerative periodontal surgery had no significant influence on pulp status in single-rooted and multi-rooted teeth with infraosseous defects extending to the level of the middle and apical third.