title: Periodontal dressing after surgical crown lengthening: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of periodontal dressing on post-operative pain and swelling after surgical crown lengthening.
  
  
  METHODS
  A blind, randomized, clinical trial was carried out with 36 patients. Following surgical crown lengthening, the individuals were randomly allocated to the periodontal dressing group (PDG) and control group (CG, non-placement of periodontal dressing). Pain and discomfort were analyzed using a visual analog scale (VAS), verbal scale (VS) and the number of analgesics consumed in 7 days post-operatively. Post-operative infection, stability of the gingival margin and type of healing were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PDG had a significantly higher percentage of responses of 'strong pain' on the VS in the first day post-operatively (33.3% vs 5.3%, p = 0.03) and greater pain on the first and second days post-operatively based on the VAS. Moreover, a significant difference between groups was found regarding gingival swelling after 7 days. However, gingival recession was found in 57.8% of the sites in the CG and only 5.5% of sites in the PDG. No change in condition was found among individuals with conjunctive tissue/bone exposure in the CG in the immediate post-operative period and 80% of the patients in the PDG had healing by first intention after 7 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of periodontal dressing seems to be preferable following surgical crown lengthening with connective tissue/bone exposure. However, adequate post-operative analgesic strategies should be employed due to the possibility of intense pain in the first 24 hours.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Franciscan University Center , Santa Maria , Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Pippi
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Antoniazzi
authors.forename: Alessandra Ramires
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Joana Luz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Da Rosa
authors.forename: Kivia Linhares
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ferrazo
authors.forename: Fabricio Batistin
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Zanatta
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Feldens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000541:Alveolectomy / Q000379:methods; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000601:surgery; D016556:Crown Lengthening; D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010511:Periodontal Dressings; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000601:surgery; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: pain; periodontal surgery; wound healing