Abstract:

Objective To analyze the clinical efficacy of coronal reduction flap, lateral transposition flap, and double nipple flap in repairing soft tissue defects after epulis resection. Methods A total of 23 patients with epulis were selected. They were treated by three types of pedicled flaps according to the conditions of gingival defects after epulis resection surgery. Gingival index (GI), keratinized gingival width (KGW), gingival recession (GR) and papilla fill index (PFI) were examined and recorded before and six months after the operation. The type of gingival recession after epulis resection and the patient’s pain (VAS) were recorded 2 weeks after surgery. Results There was no recurrence in three groups. Compared with preoperative, GI and GR were decreased (P<0.05); KGW was increased (P<0.05) significantly and it was significantly higher in the lateral sliding flap group and double papillae flap group than that in the coronally advanced flap group (P<0.05); PFI was higher in the coronally advanced flap group and the lateral sliding flap group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in other statistics (P>0.05). Conclusion Three types of pedicled flaps all achieved satisfactory clinical effect and aesthetic value on restoring the defects after epulis resection. KGW was increased significantly after operation in all three groups and the lateral sliding flap and double papillae flap were superior to coronally advanced flap.

Key words: epulis, soft tissue defect, coronally advanced flap, lateral sliding flap, double papillae flap