Videoscope-assisted minimally invasive periodontal surgery (V-MIS)

Small incision surgery has become routine in many areas of medicine but has not been widely accepted in periodontal therapy. A videoscope to assist minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been developed. The clinical outcomes from MIS performed using this videoscope (V-MIS) are reported.

Patients were evaluated for residual defects following non-surgical therapy consisting of root planing with local anaesthetic. Thirty patients having 110 sites with residual pocket probing depth (PPD) of at least 5 mm, 2 mm loss of clinical attachment level (CAL), and radiographic evidence of bone loss were surgically treated. V-MIS was performed utilizing the videoscope for surgical visualization.

At re-evaluation 6 months post surgery, there was a statistically significant improvement (p < .001) in mean PPD and CAL (PPD 3.88 ± 1.02 mm, CAL 4.04 ± 1.38 mm) in 1, 2, and 3 wall defects. All PPD at re-evaluation were 3 mm or less. There was a mean post-surgical increase in soft tissue height (0.13 ± 0.61 mm, p = 0.168) with a decrease in recession.

The improvement in PPD and CAL from V-MIS, in the authors' opinion, appears to be favourable when compared to previously reported results of periodontal regenerative surgery. The lack of post-surgical recession following V-MIS has not been reported with traditional regenerative surgery.