Flap Design and Disfigured Scar Formation in Periapical Surgery

Abstract

Surgeons hope to avert disfigured scar formation of incision line after surgery from the aspect of esthetics. Flap designs in periapical surgery were clinically evaluated in relation to postoperative disfigured scar formation. Fifty nine systemically healthy patients who need endodontic periapical surgery were operated by means of two types of flap designs, i.e., semilunar and Luebke-Ochsenbein, followed by the continuous locking suture technique using Oval-M^® (6-0, polypropylene). Postoperative scarring at two weeks or one month was observed. The Luebke-Ochsenbein flap design showed less scar formation than semilunar flap during experiment period showing particularly unnoticeable scar formation at one month postoperatively. The results indicated the Luebke-Ochsenbein method was recommended ideal flap design without disfigured postoperative scar formation followed by continuous locking suture technique using Oval-M^®.