Treatment of periodontal destruction associated with a cemental tear using minimally invasive surgery.
BACKGROUND
A patient presented with moderate probing depth, pain on occlusal contact, and a fistula on a mandibular bicuspid. The probing depth increased 2 mm over a 3-month period despite relief of the occlusal trauma and resolution of the fistula. A radiograph showed an apparent separation of the cementum in the area of the pocket.


METHODS
The lesion was treated using a minimally invasive surgical approach to place a bone graft.


RESULTS
The probing depth was reduced to 2 mm with less than 1 mm of increased recession. A histologic examination of the damaged calcified tissue confirmed that it was cementum.


CONCLUSIONS
The increasing probing depth associated with a cemental tear seems to indicate that this phenomenon contributed to loss of attachment and bone. Removal of the detached cementum in combination with bone grafting using a minimally invasive surgical approach appears to have successfully corrected the periodontal destruction.
Harrel
S K
SK
Baylor College of Dentistry, TAMUS, Dallas, TX, USA. skh1@airmail.net
Wright
J M
JM
D001641:Bicuspid / Q000293:injuries; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology