A minimally invasive surgical approach for periodontal regeneration: Surgical technique and observations

Increasingly, patients referred to periodontists have undergone some form o f non-surgical periodontal treatment prior to their referral. As a result o f this, there is an increased need to treat isolated, rather than generaliz ed, periodontal defects. A surgical technique that utilizes small incisions and a limited access approach for treating isolated periodontal defects is described. Results from the use of the minimally invasive surgical (MIS) t echnique for periodontal regeneration in a comparison study appear to be si milar to those where a more traditional surgical approach has been used. So me of the apparent advantages and disadvantages of using the MIS approach a re discussed.