Gingival/soft tissue abscess following subepithelial connective tissue graft for root coverage: report of three cases.
BACKGROUND
The subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) is a predictable technique for root coverage. The small number of potential postoperative problems make SCTG the current treatment of choice for reversing gingival recession.


METHODS
The purpose of this article is to report three cases of complications after the use of an SCTG where an abscess occurred following the initial healing phase. The surgical technique that was used and the treatment that was provided for the abscesses are reported, and the possible causes of these complications are discussed.


RESULTS
The abscesses were treated conservatively, and no recurrence has been observed after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Possible causes of the abscesses include "stitch abscess" or reaction to the suture material used for the submerged sutures, or a possible role of epithelium implanted during the procedure. The clinical outcome of the root coverage procedure was not affected.
Vastardis
Sotirios
S
Periodontics Department, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, New Orleans, LA, USA. svasta@lsuhsc.edu
Yukna
Raymond A
RA
D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000009:adverse effects; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing
D011098:Polyglactin 910